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Pardew on WHU defeat

ALAN Pardew says he feels 'desperate' for his Albion players after they were on the wrong end of late drama at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Andy Carroll struck twice - hitting the winner in the 94th minute - to condemn the Baggies to a sickening defeat. But Pardew said he couldn't fault the application of his men.

"It's heartbreaking for the players. The effort and commitment they've put in today could not be faulted.

"They were out on their feet. Any of our fans who travelled down - and they were brilliant our fans - would have seen that first half we were as good as we've been against a West Ham side who'd had five days rest. But we just couldn't maintain it.

"We were tired second half, physically and mentally. We gave it away easily at times and were inviting trouble. They got the equaliser and that got their tails up - we were really hanging on.

"Then the last period was probably the best we'd had in the second half. We get Oli [Burke] running down the corner in the 94th minute - if it had been me I'd have run it into the corner and accepted the point. But we're under pressure to get a win and I can understand why he's put it in the box. Then they go up the other end and score.

"I want to say that we could have been better but even that was hard to say with a two-day turnaround - really tough on us. I'm desperate for them, I really am."

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