Shropshire Star

David Moyes: West Ham didn't show enough steel against Shrewsbury Town

David Moyes insists West Ham did not show enough steel in their FA Cup draw at Shrewsbury, admitting: "They were better than us."

Published

Moyes' Premier League outfit were outworked by League One's second-place at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.

A third round replay will take place at the London Stadium on Tuesday, January 16.

"They were better than us so I'm pleased to still be in the FA Cup," said Moyes, who played for Salop from 1987 to 1990.

"I don't think we showed any quality and we didn't show enough steel.

"When you come to these places, you need to battle and compete. I didn't think we did that.

"For me, that was the worst thing about it.

"The conditions, the sun, didn't make it easy but that doesn't stop the fact we didn't compete on a lot of occasions.

"I'd like to put it down to playing on Tuesday and Thursday (against West Brom and then Spurs), and this maybe not getting everyone as high as those games did.

"If you compare Wembley on Thursday to coming here, it's a big change. It's a mentality thing and you have to recognise and respect whatever players you're up against, but we didn't compete at all.

"We were playing a patched-up team and the way we were set up wasn't ideal, but that's what we had available."

Despite having several injuries, the Hammers still put out a team including the likes of Javier Hernandez, Andre Ayew and Angelo Ogbonna.

Josh Cullen and Winston Reid picked up knocks at Shrewsbury - Cullen having two teeth knocked out, and Reid going of with a groin complaint.

"We tried to pick the most experienced team we had available to us," said Moyes.

"I don't think we had many any attempts at all. We had one or two, but very few.

"Joe Hart, in the first half, made a couple of really good saves.

"Shrewsbury are doing really well in the league, they've got a bit of momentum going, so I think it was always going to be a tough game.

"There's not many Premier League teams winning games easily in the FA Cup. They're difficult games.

"Young Josh Cullen had two teeth knocked out and we sent him straight to A&E to see if they can save them.

"Winston Reid felt his groin towards the end. It's the sort of thing we don't need."

He added: "It was a tough game and Shrewsbury were better than us.

"I went to get through, no matter what, so we need to try to find a way of getting a team that is going to beat Shrewsbury."