Happy birthday Avram... or not, as the case may be. The Hammers boss chews over the bones of a demoralising defeat in tonight's post-match press conference...
Avram: you must be disappointed what with all the chances you had in the first half to go in goalless at half time?Yes, very disappointed. It's the first game we've lost to a team near us - we've taken points from the others and today it was very important. We could have won the game in the first half, then we didn't deal well with their set-pieces. Birmingham did very well against us with the tall players they have. Unfortunately we lost.
It's the second time you've played against Zigic and he's obviously proving too much for your back line to cope with. Are you annoyed that your defenders couldn't cope with him?
You know, of course. They scored from two corners in the semi final and they've scored here. Of course I'm not happy but we need to deal with this now. When the delivery is very good, we need to deal with it better.
Do you think there's also problems with a lack of concentration? The free-kick that led to the goal was perhaps needless? Some of the composure wasn't there?
First we gave them easy free-kicks when we know that this is their strength. From their open game they didn't create much against us; [nor] in most of the games we've played against them. So I think yes. I also think the referee gave them easy fouls that weren't fouls before.
It seems to be one step forwards two steps back, this season for you?
It looks like it, but we need to think about the next game. The disappointing thing is that we lost to a team near us, a six-pointer. Until now we've won these games. But this has happened, we need to take the positives that have happened in the past few weeks and look forward - because it will be a battle until the end.
The situation is not easy. It's also not easy to lose players in the warm-up [James Tomkins] and after 35 minutes - Matthew Upson - but we need to deal with it and take points, because we have the quality to do it.
Psychologically, this win is massive for Birmingham. How bad is it for West Ham?
If you look at what we've done this season, when we've disappointed we recover really well and I hope it will be like this again. Psychology? We were carrying a good momentum with a great win on Wednesday. But the psychology changes, we need to deal with these situations and we will.
Happy birthday by the way...
It's not so happy... [laughs]
It's a terrible birthday, isn't it?
Yeah.
The weekend's terrible; are you going to do anything for your birthday? Is it all cancelled?
All cancelled.
What were you planning to do?
I will tell you later... [more laughs]
Have you celebrated it at all today?
How can I celebrate? We didn't score, we didn't win... No it's not a happy birthday but it's not me that's important, it's the team. I think we took a few steps forward and then one step back. We need to learn from this and go forward, because we'll battle until the end of the season. We deserve to stay up but we need to do it. But we cannot lose games like this, it doesn't matter how.
You've always been kind of laid back and confident; this is the strongest I've ever heard you say that you're beginning to think time is running out - and that this is a really big blow today?
I cannot say that time is running out because we have 12 games until the end of the season - and there are not so many points between the teams in the relegation zone. We have time to do it, but we want to do it as quickly as we can. But we didn't want to lose today.
What disappointed you most about the performance today?
I think the tempo of the game. We're used to playing with a high tempo and high confidence but today we didn't stamp our authority on the game.
What is Matt Upson's injury, is it serious?
I don't know, we need to see. We have a few new injuries; Tomkins, when warming up, Matthew Upson. Also Robbie Keane.
Robbie Keane's injured?
Yeah. Maybe a calf [strain], we need to wait and see.
So is he fit for next weekend at West Brom?
I hope, but he will not be fit for the [midweek] international.
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