Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, expressed his disappointment that his team could only manage a draw against West Ham, despite Enes Unal’s incredible equalizer from a free-kick in the dying moments of the match.
West Ham took the lead through Lucas Paqueta’s penalty just three minutes before the end, but Unal responded with a brilliant free-kick that secured a point for Bournemouth.
The Cherries registered an impressive 29 shots on target, a figure they have surpassed only once in their Premier League history, but they struggled to convert these opportunities in a game that was open.
“Even though we scored late, I don’t believe it’s a good result for us,” stated Iraola.
“Our performance improved in the second half. I was not satisfied with the first half. We were striving for a victory, but then the penalty occurred, which forced us to settle for a point. I don’t view this as a positive outcome.”
“I thought the penalty was harsh”
Henry reacts to Bournemouth’s late draw against West Ham 👇 pic.twitter.com/smPcZaoYfF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 16, 2024
“The pace of the game was slow for us in the first half. We didn’t show enough bravery to really challenge them. We did improve in the second half, but it wasn’t sufficient for a victory.”
West Ham United’s manager, Julen Lopetegui, commended the resilience shown by his team.
Amid pressure due to West Ham’s mixed start to the season, Lopetegui will likely take satisfaction from the determination shown by his players in a match where they were outplayed for extended periods.
“It’s unfortunate. We believed we could secure a win in a challenging venue,” Lopetegui stated to Sky Sports.
“The match was tightly contested. In the first half, we performed better, but they were ahead in the second half. We endured some pressure but managed to score.”
“Unal’s goal was phenomenal. After their goal, we faced a lot of pressure. However, we demonstrated excellent character in the closing moments and competed very well.”
“More importantly than the point is the way the players performed. Their attitude was very commendable,” he added.
This draw places West Ham seven points above the relegation zone, while sixth-placed Bournemouth is enjoying a more positive season, having accumulated 25 points, the highest at this stage in any of their Premier League campaigns.
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