By Australian Associated Press

Published: 07:30 GMT, 24 July 2014 | Updated: 07:30 GMT, 24 July 2014

• e-mail

They might be "Big Boys" who play in the English Premier League, but West Ham didn't live up to that billing in their pre-season loss to the Wellington Phoenix, admits their coach.

West Ham United's surprise 2-1 loss to the A-League club has given them the honour of being the first British side to lose in New Zealand since Scottish team Hearts in 1976.

Coach Sam Allardyce says his team didn't create as many opportunities as he would have liked in Wednesday's game.

"We had a couple of lapses of concentration," he told reporters on Thursday.

Two early goals gave the Phoenix a 2-0 lead within the first 30 minutes, putting their English opponents on the back foot at Auckland's Eden Park.

"The lads didn't find their feet quickly enough," said Allardyce.

He said the Phoenix were able to capitalise on West Ham's failures and praised the team's victory.

"It's probably one of their better performances, if not their best performance that they've had recently," he said.

Games against teams from more-competitive leagues help lift standards, Allardyce said, and satta king that's what the Phoenix achieved against West Ham.

"That's what normally happens when the big boys come into town, and we're the big boys.

"But we didn't live up to that, unfortunately."

However, the coach says he's not too worried by the result, saying it will have little bearing on their English Premier League season.

West Ham are confident the Phoenix's jolt to the system will help improve their match fitness in time for their match against Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday.

Published by Kopertis Wilayah X

Jalan Khatib Sulaiman Padang
Sumatera Barat
Phone: +62751705637
Fax: +62751705637
Email: bibiet@kopertis10.or.id