MALKY TAKES POSITIVES

City boss reacts to opening day loss

City boss Malky Mackay took the positives from the Bluebirds' opening day in the Premier League, despite their 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

Limiting the Hammers to three shots on target throughout the match and having much of the ball throughout the game, the City boss pointed to the clinical nature of an experienced Hammers side for the opening day result.

"We certainly weren't overawed," said Malky, "We started the first 15-20 minutes slowly but after that we had an awful lot of possession.

"They only had three shots on target today and they were the home team, but as I say they were clinical with their two finishes. It's something we've got to work on.

"We knew we were coming to a good team, to a good atmosphere in a good stadium, we knew we had to start better than we did. They were clinical with their finishing, got the goal but after that I thought we had plenty of possession although perhaps lacked that penetration."

A 13th minute strike from former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and a Kevin Nolan effort with 15 minutes to go were enough to give the Hammers victory on the day, with Nicky Maynard coming closest to getting on the scoresheet for the Bluebirds late in the game.

But despite conceding an early goal, Malky was pleased with the way his side grew into the game as it went on, saying: "2nd half I thought we grew into the game, but again they were clinical with their second goal.

 

"We had one good chance in the second half and they did, they scored theirs and we didn't score ours. It's learning as far as that's concerned but over all I can't be too harsh on my players because at Upton Park we had an awful lot of possession and I thought we gave a good account of ourselves.

"I don't think it's a lesson. I think we knew before the game that we had to be clinical and our choices with that final pass or final decision.

"Rudy (Gestede) had a strike on goal in the second half where he should've but Nicky Maynard in for a strike on goal and we had another in the first half where we were three on two and Kim Bo had a strike on goal instead of putting Bellamy in.

"We knew exactly what we were coming to and knew what our game plan should be for today and for vast parts of the game we were certainly in control of a lot of the ball.

"It was always going to be a tough game to come to this afternoon at Upton Park, I played here. It's something we've got to try and do and make our stadium a fortress but at the same time you have to try and pick up points away from home, it's never going to be easy.

"As I said to limit West Ham to so many shots on target I thought we did well, we've just got to be slightly better than we were."

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Watch reaction from Malky Mackay, Sam Allardyce, Fraizer Campbell and Matt Connolly below.