Cesar Peixoto said the 4-2 scoreline at West Ham United wasn’t a true reflection of how the game went at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Wolves controlled the contest for long spells, but West Ham were clinical, and enjoyed an element of fortune, which inflicted a first defeat of the season on Peixoto’s side.
The head coach was refusing to become too downbeat however, pointing out that everything was not perfect in Saturday’s win over Stoke City, and everything wasn’t bad against the Hammers, meaning level heads are needed around the club now.
On a tough night at West Ham
“It’s not the result we wanted. I think it’s an unfair result because we created a lot of chances, but West Ham were more clinical when they got into our box. We stayed competitive until the end. We could have scored one or two more goals, but we are angry with that, but I liked that the team fought until the end, even when we were 4-1 down, we created a lot of chances, we played like we wanted to and push pushed West Ham deep. We scored the second goal and could have scored one more.
“I think we controlled the ball well for periods and tried to manage the game with possession. We had good chances in the first half, hitting the bar, and didn’t score. We stayed in the game but West Ham scored a great goal and for five minutes we were disorganised and we conceded the penalty. After we scored and the game became more balanced again. I think we managed the ball better than West Ham for long periods, but ultimately they scored four and we scored two.
“It’s only our first defeat of the season. The team still played with confidence, stayed organised and showed bravery away from home against a strong team. I’m happy with that, but of course I’m not happy with the result.”
On his message to the players
“The players know they played a good game. If you only look at the scoreline, you might think Wolves didn’t play well, but that wasn’t the case. I think we played a good game and created enough chances to score more goals. Of course, the players are unhappy with the result, but they know we played in the way we want to play.
“I told them to keep their heads up. It’s one defeat. The Championship is very long. If we continue playing like this, I believe we’ll win more games than we lose. I don’t have any doubts about that.”
On the players’ application
“The important thing is the players who were here tonight and the work they put into the game. They gave a lot of effort and played in the way I want. The second half was difficult because West Ham scored the third goal, which was a little bit fortunate.
“For the fourth goal, we had a meeting with the referees before the start of the season here in London and they told us that blocking the goalkeeper at corners would be a foul this season. Tonight, I felt their player blocked our goalkeeper for the fourth goal and stopped him from getting to the ball, but the referee didn’t give the foul. Sa didn’t go at the right time because of the block. That’s football. We have to move on, keep improving the team and try to win the next game.”
On remaining level-headed
“I think we have to stay calm. We’ve lost one game this season. Today we didn’t do everything bad, we did a lot of things well. In the last game we won 4-1, but that didn’t mean everything was perfect. Tonight we’ve lost 4-2, but that doesn’t mean everything was bad. We have to stay calm and keep working hard in the same way we’ve worked until now. The team stayed competitive until the end. For me, that was important.
“We kept reacting and trying to score another goal to get ourselves back into the game. Now, in the next game, we have to react again and try to win.”
On the positives on show
“Tonight, we didn’t abandon our identity at any point in the game. For me, that’s very clear and I’m happy with that. I’m not happy with the result because I think the game was balanced. The difference was that West Ham scored their chances and we didn’t score enough of ours. The other non-negotiable is the effort and identity of the team.
“The players have to help each other and stay together as a group. If we stay like that, with our identity, our effort and everybody together, then I believe we’re going to win more games than we lose.”
