West Ham boss makes admission about £10m summer signing

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic felt that his players were magnificent as the Hammers picked up a much-needed win at Crystal Palace tonight (Saturday).

West Ham had to play the closing stages of the game with ten men after full-back Aaron Cresswell was sent off on his return to the first team, picking up two bookings within the space of a minute.

Christian Benteke then wasted a glorious chance to get Palace back in the game after Angelo Ogbonna took him down in the area for a penalty just before the break.

The Hammers’ first away win of the season is an encouraging boost to the confidence of the team and fans alike – the travelling faithful enjoying the wet evening under the lights in south London. He took delight in his side’s slick football in the first half and later in the way they withstood a late storm of pressure from Crystal Palace.

The weather was so bad that Palace we’re unable to do their usual half time challenge – but they promised all the entrants would receive a prize.

After managing James Tomkins at West Ham United, the Englishman tried to bring him up north to the Magpies.

Nevertheless, Palace got off to a nightmarish and unexpected start when Manuel Lanzini flicked the relegation zone dwelling Hammers into the lead.

Benteke’s penalty miss: “It was a crucial moment, and if I’m honest I’m expecting him to score after the week he’s had”.

Instead West Ham, looking to settle their nerves, continued to push for a second goal, which nearly arrived when Lanzini linked well with Simone Zaza before bursting clear of Palace’s back four. Under the cosh for periods in the second half, West Ham’s task was made more hard by referee Martin Atkinson, who sent off Aaron Creswell on his return for a foul that barely merited a booking.

West Ham have been extremely unlucky with injuries, missing a number of key players who helped them to seventh place last season.

To the former Liverpool man’s credit, he nearly redeemed himself in the minute of stoppage time which followed by attacking a deep cross and heading against the post for the final action of the half.

Cresswell was proving a real problem for the home side breaking forward outlet as another attack saw him feed Simone Zaza, but the on-loan Italian striker’s effort was tame and was never going to beat Steve Mandanda, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper.

Benteke nearly redeemed himself almost instantaneously, as he rose for the header in extra-time but clattered the post.

They most likely did not want the worldwide break and you could see why as they appeared disjointed in an error-strewn first-half performance.