Source: SKY_Sports
Zola remains defiant
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola feels his side were closing to matching Liverpool despite their 3-0 Upton Park defeat.[LNB] Rafa Benitez's title hopefuls needed just 76 seconds to break the deadlock with Fernando Torres combing with Steven Gerrard for the England midfielder to score.[LNB]Gerrard added a second before the break, with Luis Boa Morte penalised for pulling back Torres and the Reds skipper following up after seeing his spot-kick saved by Rob Green.[LNB]Ryan Babel added gloss to the scoreline with a late third, but Zola feels his side were made to pay for not taking their own chances.[LNB]Better"I don't think on the pitch there was a big difference," he said. "In the first half we probably played better than them, the quality of the passing was good.[LNB]"2-0 was too much, it could have been 2-1. In my opinion it should have been 1-1, but that is the difference really."[LNB]It could have been different for West Ham if David di Michele kept his composure when he seized on an error from Jamie Carragher and raced through on goal.[LNB]But he stumbled and lost his footing as Pepe Reina approached - and to rub salt in the wound he was booked for diving.[LNB]"I don't think he looked for it," added Zola. "The referee booked him, but he just lost his legs and lost his balance.[LNB]"I don't think it was a simulation. What can I say, Di Michele doesn't get many goals, but he is a key player for us."[LNB]
