Allardyce understands fans´ frustration

Sam Allardyce sympathised with West Ham’s fans after they showed their frustration at a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Mile Jedinak’s 59th-minute penalty secured victory for in-form Palace at Upton Park on Saturday and sent West Ham to their third consecutive Premier League defeat.

Boos from the home end greeted the final whistle and Allardyce said he understood why the fans had vented their anger after a disappointing display.

The West Ham boss bemoaned a lack of creativity from his players and blamed wasteful finishing for an 18th defeat of the Premier League campaign.

“I always have sympathy (for the fans) by the fact that I am as frustrated as they are,” said Allardyce. “I don’t want to see my team losing when they are playing, particularly at home.

“At the end of the day, when you are playing against a team that is very good at what they do and have been since he (manager Tony Pulis) got his new players in January, you hope you break that down and win 1-0.

“They hardly concede, so we knew it had to be more than likely for us to score first and win 1-0, but our finishing failed us.

“We were pretty miserable in our finishing. Our finishing wasn’t good enough when we created the chances we did and you don’t – against Palace – create that many.”

West Ham remain seven points clear of the relegation places with three games remaining, while a top-half finish looks unlikely with Stoke City currently seven points ahead in 10th.