Source: Team_Talk
Big Sam Hammers poor finishing
Sam Allardyce blamed West Ham's poor finishing for their shock 1-0 home defeat by Cardiff on Sunday, saying: "We weren't clinical enough."[LNB] The Hammers had numerous chances to get off the mark in their opening npower Championship clash at Upton Park, but instead were hit by a sucker punch when Kenny Miller grabbed a stoppage-time goal at the other end.[LNB]Scott Parker, still with West Ham despite constant speculation linking him with a move back to the Premier League, set the tone when he was sent through on goal but took a poor touch allowing Anthony Gerrard to get a tackle in.[LNB]Frederic Piquionne rattled a post, Peter Whittingham cleared James Tomkins' header off the line and City goalkeeper David Marshall made fine saves from Piquionne, Matt Taylor and Pablo Barrera.[LNB]And the Hammers were made to pay for not turning their dominance into goals when former Rangers striker Miller, who joined Cardiff from Turkish side Bursaspor last month, hit a dramatic winner.[LNB]"From our point of view we've mastered the game, created numerous chances and today was one of those days when we were not clinical enough to punish the opposition and then we paid the ultimate price right at the very end," Allardyce told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"We've lost a game we really should have won. I told the players that you don't always get what you deserve but don't go and throw a game away, and that's what we've done.[LNB]"A point is not the end of the world after a good performance, it should have been three, but you get one and you move on.[LNB]"But we didn't even do that so it's a hugely disappointing day for everyone. As ever the expectation is high and we haven't lived up to that expectation today.[LNB]"I just hope it's one of those days. It didn't go for us. The quality of our finishing is really what let us down. With the numerous chances we had we weren't clinical enough.[LNB]"And we had a bit of misfortune, the Piquionne one was a fantastic finish that rebounded off the post instead of going in, and James Tomkins' header was going into the net but just came off the defender.[LNB]"So that's the unlucky side today, but when we had the opportunities the finishing just wasn't good enough."[LNB]New Cardiff boss Malky Mackay would no doubt have settled for a point as the clock moved into stoppage time.[LNB]But substitute Rudy Gestede had other ideas, charging down the wing before pulling the ball back for fellow debutant Miller to lash home.[LNB]"It's a fantastic result and it was a good performance from the boys," Miller told the BBC.[LNB]"It was hard work at times, they threw everything at us, our defence was outstanding and we got a reward in the end.[LNB]"As a forward you want to score goals and when you come to a new club it's always important to get off the mark early, and there's no better place to do it than away at Upton Park.[LNB]"It's only one of 46 matches but it was important to come here and get a good start, the last thing we wanted to do was get beaten.[LNB]"A point would have been a good result for us so to nick it at the end was a dream start."
