Graham Potter blasted his players for their inability to control games and admitted he faces some big decisions this summer after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by rock-bottom Southampton.
Relegated Saints were still on course to be crowned the worst team in Premier League history after Jarrod Bowen fired the hosts into the lead just after half-time.
But Southampton were not even the worst team at the London Stadium for the majority of the match and got a deserved stoppage-time equaliser through Lesley Ugochukwu.
The Saints fans behind the goal celebrated like they had won the league, probably drowning out the audible groans from Derby after they saw their record-low points tally of 11 from the 2007-08 season matched.
But Potter pulled no punches after his under-performing side failed to close out a match against a side who have lost 26 times this season and were booed off at the end.
“I can’t say we deserved much more, which is a reflection on how disappointed we are,” said Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui in January but has a worse points-per-game ratio than the much-maligned Spaniard.
“Credit to Southampton, but we didn’t do enough to win and in the end, we have to look at the reasons why.
“If you have to be the protagonists of the game, which I think West Ham are at home to Southampton we have to be that. We have to be able to control things and be able to attack and be able to be in control of the situation.
“We weren’t able to do that and in the end, that always feeds the opponent, no matter where they are in the league, whatever their points tally is.
“I think we have to look at the situation and recognise that where we are now isn’t where we want to be.
“We have to look at the season as a whole and zoom out and think about what decisions we can make going forward, because where we are now and how we’re playing, we need to improve.”
West Ham forward Niclas Fullkrug was left “very angry” after the team failed to close out for all three points.
“It’s a mindset problem,” Fullkrug said on Sky Sports. “(I am) very angry today – not disappointed, just angry about what we did after the goal.
“It is not the first time that we scored a goal, and the next goal-kick we just shoot the ball long, we don’t try to play football anymore. We just sink. That’s not the way we want to play.”
Fullkrug, who signed for the Irons in the summer from Borussia Dortmund, added: “We have to find a way to have togetherness, to have the idea of where we want to go and what we want to do.
“The coach is very clear about what he wants, but we have to do it all – everyone has to do it.”
It was hardly time to crack out the champagne for Southampton, but interim boss Simon Rusk was nevertheless delighted with a point.
“I think we can be really pleased. I thought that it was the least we deserved,” he said.
“I was disappointed at not getting to half-time ahead. I thought the players showed mental stamina in the second half and didn’t in any way, shape or form feel sorry for ourselves. And we fully deserved our equaliser at the end.
“I’m really pleased to see there that they’ve had a moment with the fans at the end. That was a nice moment to observe. Late goals at the end like that, after what’s been a really difficult season, is a lovely moment.”
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his players for writing a new chapter in Crystal Palace’s history following their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal and Dean Henderson’s penalty save paved the way for Palace to land their first major trophy and a spot in the Europa League next season.“We said before the game that we wanted t...
Pep Guardiola was unhappy about Dean Henderson’s time wasting in Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat – but the Spaniard refused to be drawn on whether the Crystal Palace goalkeeper should have been sent off.An angry Guardiola exchanged words with Henderson after the final whistle following City’s 1-0 loss at Wembley, which leaves them without a trophy this season and stil...
Airdrieonians secured their place in the Scottish Championship for another season as they beat Cove Rangers 2-1 on aggregate in their play-off final after a 0-0 second-leg draw at Excelsior Stadium.The early stages saw Lewis McGrattan bring a good save out of Cove goalkeeper Nicholas Suman, before counterpart Cade Melrose did well at the other end as he blocked Adam Emslie’s shot with his fo...
Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal fired Crystal Palace to the first major trophy in their history as they secured a 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester City at Wembley.Eze put Palace ahead with their first attack of the match before an inspired Dean Henderson saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty.However, Henderson could count himself fortunate to still be on the pitch after he earlier appeared t...
East Kilbride won promotion to Scottish League Two for the first time and sent Bonnyrigg Rose down after a 0-0 draw at New Dundas Park saw the visitors triumph 3-1 on aggregate.Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Paddy Martin did well to keep out a Joao Balde strike in the 24th minute, before Aaron Arnott fired over at the other end.Kerr Young was unable to make the most of two chances for the hosts midway throu...
Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his dogged Dundee United side following the 2-1 comeback win over Aberdeen which clinched fourth place and a European spot.The Terrors, who returned to the William Hill Premiership this season, had lost their four post-split matches going into the final fixture against the Dons, who were two points ahead and looking in fine fettle when Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels score...
Barry Ferguson was left infuriated by one of the worst decisions he has ever seen and called for the introduction of goal-line technology after Rangers were on the wrong end of a pivotal first-half call in their season-concluding 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.With Gers leading through an early Cyriel Dessers strike, Nico Raskin looked to have put them two ahead in the 15th minute but Hibs defender Ro...
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes the toughness of his side has driven them to the League Two play-off final after they defeated Notts County 1-0 at Plough Lane.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the Dons a 2-0 aggregate victory that was as deserved as it was hard-earned.The South London outfit have not let in a goal in the last three games, and further demonstrated why their defe...
Dundee United clinched a European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place in the William Hill Premiership with a stunning 2-1 comeback win.Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game.United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher...
Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting William Hill Premiership campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through top scorer Cyriel Dessers and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs ...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 4 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 5 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 6 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Walsall’s ‘fighting performance’ after win in play-off first leg
- 8 David Gray thanks Hibernian board for showing faith in him after securing third
- 9 Airdrieonians earn first-leg lead over Cove in play-offs
- 10 Flick lauds Yamal, as Barca nears title