Pellegrini ‘angry’ and ‘ashamed’ of lacklustre West Ham

Matt Stead

Manuel Pellegrini admitted he was ashamed of his players after West Ham’s humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.

The Hammers, 10th in the Premier League, were deservedly beaten 4-2 by a team lying rock bottom of League One.

They found themselves three behind a minute into the second half after goals from Kwesi Appiah and two from Scott Wagstaff.

Substitutes Lucas Perez and Felipe Anderson raised hopes of a comeback, but they were extinguished when Toby Sibbick struck the fourth two minutes from time.

Boss Pellegrini pulled no punches afterwards. He said: “Was I angry at half-time? Yes of course. I was ashamed of them.

“I didn’t expect it, the attitude, playing against a team that sits two divisions below us, but in football, you can lose in two or three balls.

“They started the way we needed to start and when you have such high pace with the quality of the players and we didn’t have the same level.”

Marko Arnautovic was left out of the squad following his recent flirtation with a move to China.

Yet 10 minutes after the final whistle West Ham announced the Austrian forward had signed a new contract, although they made no mention of the length of the extension.

Pellegrini, not at all impressed by the whole Arnautovic saga this month, refused to even discuss the announcement, angrily insisting: “I only talk about the cup.

“Ask me about the game today and I will answer. Any other question I will not answer.”