West Ham 1 Swansea City 4: Fuming Slaven Bilic urges Hammers not to blow European dream

Manager demands a response from his players after shock home defeat left them needing to beat Manchester United on Tuesday night to retain hope of top-five finish

Darren Witcoop
Monday 09 May 2016 11:36 BST
Comments
Bilic believes his side have 'a good chance to beat them' and progress
Bilic believes his side have 'a good chance to beat them' and progress (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

No Champions League and now potentially no Europa League for West Ham to take with them to the Olympic Stadium.

It's not the fitting Upton Park farewell after 112 years those at West Ham imagined.

But that's the scenario facing Slaven Bilic's side if they slip up against Manchester United under the lights for a final time tomorrow night.

West Ham's bubble was well and truly burst against Swansea in a result nobody saw coming.

That East End carnival is in doubt so it's no wonder the West Ham manager warned his players owe it to their supporters to sign off at their famous old ground for a final time on a high.

"We can't have a repeat," said Bilic. "Of course we have to play much better.

"We owe it to the fans. We know where we failed, we have to forget it and prepare for our next game.

"There is a privilege to play the last games ever to be played here so I wouldn't think that is an excuse.

"It should be an inspiration and I think it will be."

A new-look Swansea had nothing to play for but West Ham's kamikaze defending cost them after falling behind to Wayne's Routledge 25th minute opener against the run of play.

Then the Welsh side simply picked apart a disjointed West Ham defence at will as their 15-game unbeaten run crumbled.

Six minutes later Andre Ayew struck and once Ki Sung-yeung volleyed home there would be no comeback.

A Stephen Kingsley own goal mattered little and, as West Ham piled forward, substitute Bafetimbi Gomis netted a fourth in added on time on the break.

The West Ham manager pulled no punches in his assessment and Bilic added: "You are disappointed when you do everything and then it doesn't work out for you.

"But we didn't do what we had to do and that makes me angry more. Make no mistake, I am crazy, I am fuming and I'm angry."

This was a different Swansea side to the one that rolled over and had their tummies tickled against Leicester in their previous match on the road.

Swansea midfielder Jack Cork said: "Our last two away performances have been pretty bad and we wanted to put it right.

"I think everyone would have preferred it if there was a bit more of a challenge for Leicester.

"But to come back and get a win against Liverpool and West Ham proves we are not on the beach.

"You can't take the Premier League for granted. To be where we are is a great achievement for this club. To do what we did last season was amazing. To be comfortably safe now is good for the club."

West Ham: (4-2-3-1) Randolph 5; Antonio 5, Reid 5, Ogbonna 5, Cresswell 5; Noble 7, Kouyate 6; Moses 5, Payet 6, Lanzini 5; Carroll 5. Booked: Sakho, Reid, Ogbonna. Subs not used: Spiegel, Tomkins, Collins

Swansea: (4-3-3): Fabianski 7; Naughton 7, Amat 7, Fernandez 7, Kingsley 7; Ki 8, Cork 7, Fer 6, Barrow 7 (Rangel 70,6), Routledge 7 (Gomis 82), Ayew 7 (Britton 90).

Subs not used: Nordfelt, Emnes, Gorre, Fulton.

Referee: M Oliver (County Durham)

Man of the match: Ki (Swansea)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in