Our West Ham Columnist has sympathy for the Hammers boss

Newham Recorder: West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic shouts at the fourth official during the Premier League match at London Stadium.West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic shouts at the fourth official during the Premier League match at London Stadium. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

We saw Slaven Bilic in meltdown on Saturday at the London Stadium and I think the one thing you have to say about him is that he cares so passionately about West Ham.

We all have all been there. When you are a player you can cope with frustration by sticking one in the net, or in the old days, taking someone out!

But when you are the manager there is nothing you can do about it.

I remember when I was a player-manager at Barnet we lost an FA Cup tie to Walsall after I completely miskicked the ball and when I came into the dressing room I was so frustrated I kicked the boot skip and bruised my foot.

Newham Recorder: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham celebrates his goal against West BromManuel Lanzini of West Ham celebrates his goal against West Brom (Image: Archant)

Slav will get a fine at least, but I did have sympathy with him. Some of the decisions were very debatable and I think it was a combination of decision after decision which finally saw him flip and throw the TV mic.

All that shenanigans did deflect a little from what was a good performance by West Ham to come from behind and get in front.

It made it all the more frustrating when West Brom equalised so late which meant that we couldn’t make any ground on them.

There was no Andy Carroll on Saturday which was a huge miss of course, but I thought that the other players coped well.

Newham Recorder: West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans scores the equalising goal to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match at London Stadium.West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans scores the equalising goal to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match at London Stadium. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Michail Antonio never lets anyone down, while Manuel Lanzini was excellent and I think he is stepping out of the shadows of Dimitri Payet.

I think he was more in the background last season, but for me he has the ability to step up and be the main man this season and for many seasons to come.

With Southampton winning at the weekend it meant we dropped back down to 10th place, but I have to say, even if we finish there it will still be a successful season for the Hammers.

It is has been a year of transition moving to a new stadium and we even diced with the relegation zone when things were not going that well before Christmas.

But we have shown our ability since then and moved up the league and we can still finish as high as eighth.

Realistically, it will be very tough to catch Everton in seventh, but if we finish eighth, ninth or 10th, I will consider that to be an accomplished season.

We have had plenty of teething problems on and off the field, so to get into that position is excellent.

Hopefully we will be able to push on from there. COYI!