“I’m disappointed with the result. I wanted to try and keep the momentum going in terms of the three fantastic results we had before.

“I thought the game was decided on moments rather than us being outplayed or outclassed. I thought there was not too much in the game.

“We were keeping the ball well but we didn’t create as much as we wanted.

“At 0-0 at half-time, away from home, we were in an OK place.

“I never thought there were two goals against us in the game, but we have to look at ourselves defensively because we have ourselves to blame.

“We managed to get a fantastic goal and take West Ham to the wire but their second goal was very hurtful to us.

“The game was decided by moments that went against us and we couldn’t do more with the moments we had.

“We have allowed an attacking player to take a touch, turn and have a free shot on our goal.

“The second one we are in control of the game in terms of possession and we have lost the ball in an unnecessary place and paid the price.

“It certainly was not down to effort, commitment or desire in terms of what we brought to the game. I didn’t think there was much in it.

“We are satisfied in a lot of areas. We started the job in 16th and we are 9th. There are still areas we can improve, we want to finish as high as we can.

“We need more profile in our team, stature.

“Looking at both teams, there’s a few areas where I thought West Ham had a bit more than us.

“I don’t think they did have more technically or in possession or creativity, but in terms of stature. How they defend, i.e. set plays and crosses, I think there was a gap today.

“We’ll try [to find the stature].

“We’ll keep working.

“My job, when the time’s right, is to get the right support and help to the group, make us stronger in key areas as well. And that’s certainly what I analysed from today.

“[Today I’ve learnt] about certain individuals. But I have also learned a lot from West Ham.

“They are very different in terms of the teams we have faced. They are a strong team with a lot of power.

“I have learned a lot from the opposition but that is always the case. Every game you are analysing, especially when you are new into the job.

“I have been around this league for a long time. I might be inexperienced in standing on the side but I’ve been around a lot of football matches.

“A big thing I’m trying to improve on is staying balanced and calm when things go against you. Hopefully next time we go to West Ham, the moments will be in our favour.

“The Villa fans have been absolutely class with me. They are educated people, in terms of football, and I’m not surprised at that class [applauding Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko’s opener 🇺🇦]. The kid scores good goal and he has been through a lot so we send him our regards [As Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine continues].

“We have a few bumps and bruises so we have to recover well, analyse and get ready before Arsenal next week.

“There is going to be a bit of facial reconstruction in terms of Douglas Luiz.

“He has a nasty gash in the mouth and will need surgery there. It’s a mouth injury and we’ve done our best for the short term in terms of stitching him up.

“He’s going to need expert help in order to make him look as good as he does but, listen, there will certainly be no kissing from Douglas, let me tell you!

“But it was very impressive that he carried on and it’s a side of his game nobody gives him enough credit for.

“That’s the type of character I want.

“When you come to tough places, you stand up and when the game demands bumps and bruises, you stay in for the fight right until the end and he would have, but when we got past that 60/65-minute mark and, maybe, we needed a little bit of freshness in the team.

“He [Lucas Digne] says it is a small muscle injury [after coming off in the 10th minute].

“We will analyse it with an MRI scan. I am positive in what Lucas has said to me but he is obviously a major doubt for the Arsenal game.

“Elsewhere, Calum [Chambers] is in a similar situation to Dougie [Luiz] off a forearm smash. There are a lot of ice packs about as well. It goes to show it was a tough physical game.

“[Was it unacceptably physical from West Ham?] Not at all. I was a physical player. We have to welcome that challenge.

“I was impressed by West Ham in terms of how they looked on the pitch.

“I thought Declan Rice was superb today.

“[But] I thought Dawson’s [elbow first challenge] one could have been avoided. I didn’t think there was any need for the forearm smash.

“But in terms of the physicality from West Ham, no, we welcome those challenges.”

Steven Gerrard.