West Ham United FC

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Zola rues missed chances

21 Dec 2008 - 12:27:54

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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola bemoaned a series of missed chances as his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Upton Park on Saturday evening.

The Hammers created several excellent goalscoring opportunities before James Milner's cross deflected off Lucas Neill and looped over Robert Green in the closing stages of the game to hand al three points to the visitors.

A downbeat Zola said after the loss: "It is difficult to come off the pitch after you play a game like that and come away with nothing.

"It is hard to describe for me. We had so many chances. We were playing against the team that is fourth in the table and we are just one point from relegation but you didn't see that on the pitch.

"The team is performing well and creating chances, doing everything well but coming away with no points.

"It makes me so upset like you can't even imagine. I'm upset, I'm frustrated for my players because they deserve much better than this and the crowd deserve much better than this.

"It is impossible that it will carry on like this that's all I can say about this. I don't just give up. I need to be strong about this and this is what I told my players. We have to start making our own luck.

"If a team plays like this there is no way it can be like this forever and that's what I can say. I am very sorry for them, they deserve better than this."