West Ham United failed to make it three wins on the bounce in all competitions on Sunday as they lost 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur.
Proceedings got off to the worst possible start for the Hammers when Kurt Zouma turned the ball into his own net with just nine minutes gone, and when Heung-min Son made it two for Spurs soon after West Ham were faced with an unenviable uphill battle.
The visitors did manage to peg a goal back before the break, though, as Said Benrahma nipped in at the far post from a corner, but their attempted fightback in the second-half was in vain as Son secured the result in the 88th minute.
West Ham manager David Moyes addressed the media after the match — these were his most noteworthy quotes.
On the overall performance
Despite the scoreline, this was a respectable display from West Ham; they went toe-to-toe with Tottenham and showed exactly why the two teams are fighting it out in the Premier League table, ultimately just letting themselves down in both boxes.
Moyes was generally pleased with the display, and a little bemused as to how they had found themselves two down so early in the encounter.
"I thought we actually started the game better and we were a little bit unfortunate because we were 2-0 down in a game where we hadn't really done much wrong. The biggest credit was that the players stuck at it and especially after Thursday, I'd just have to say well done to them."
On Europa League fatigue
Indeed, playing 120 minutes against Sevilla in the Europa League just 72 hours before their trip across the capital doubtless had a bearing on West Ham's performance here. Moyes insisted he was pleased with his side's display but conceded that their ability to prepare for the contest was impeded somewhat.
"It was more to do with our preparation for the match," Moyes asserted. "I didn't think it was a lack of energy which was showing, I actually thought we had more of that than them in the latter stages of the match, but with the intensity of that Europa game on Thursday night I think it was the early periods that we struggled in."
On Michail Antonio
Both of West Ham's best chances fell the way of Michail Antonio: one in the first-half was zipped wide from a fairly tight but achievable angle, and the other skewed high and wide after Aaron Cresswell had set him up with a delightful cross.
Antonio's profligacy naturally prompted questions about whether there is a deeper problem relating to his performances of late, with the 31-year old not finding the net since New Year's Day, but Moyes batted away any such suggestion whilst admitting that Tottenham's quality in the final third was what won them the game.
"I don't think Michail is struggling with confidence but if you're a number nine at any club you need to score goals and he had two good opportunities. There wasn't much in it today but ultimately Tottenham suck you in, wait till you give the ball away and get the ball to Kane and Son. I think the quality of Tottenham's forward players was so good and that made the difference."
On ambitions for the run-in
They may have suffered defeat on Sunday, but all is not lost for West Ham — Moyes' side are still well in the running for European qualification and perhaps even have a shot at getting into the Champions League, and the manager is pleased enough that his side have made it so far into the season whilst remaining in contention.
"We're seen as a side which is in with a shout of top four — if someone had said that at the start of the season I'd have belly-laughed but we've been in contention all season. Now, we have eight league games to go and obviously also the quarter-final games in the Europa League. The players have been monumental with the effort they've put in and you could hardly have picked a harder game for us to have after 120 minutes in midweek."
On the international break
West Ham now face a two-week break until their next assignment, facing Everton at the London Stadium on 3 April. Moyes is pleased for the opportunity for him and his players to rest but was adamant that the fortnight will be put to good use in order for the Hammers to achieve their objectives for the remainder of the campaign.
"I think all the managers will be pleased for the break and you just have to get used to it with players going on international duty," he said. "We're now getting ourselves ready for probably the most important part of the season — if we've enjoyed the run this year we have to want it again, so we have to get everybody fresh, fit, fully functioning and ready to go and the break should help with that."