"It's a mindset problem" - Niclas Fullkrug blasts West Ham team-mates after Southampton draw

West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug has criticised the mentality of his team-mates after the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw by basement side Southampton in the Premier League.

Jarrod Bowen had fired the hosts ahead early in the second half but Lesley Ugochukwu’s added-time equaliser ensured Southampton salvaged a point to equal Derby’s record-low Premier League points total.

The result extended West Ham's winless run to six matches and the statistics since Graham Potter arrived paint a damning picture, with only Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester City picking up fewer points than the Hammers in that period.

West Ham have averaged one point a game under Potter's stewardship, which is a worse record than that of his much-maligned predecessor, Julen Lopetegui.

Failure to defeat Southampton - who are fighting to avoid being labelled the Premier League's worst-ever side - only compounds Potter's woes but Fullkrug believes the blame does not lie with his manager.

"It's a mindset problem," Fullkrug reflected. "I'm very angry today. Not disappointed, just angry about what we did after the goal.

"We didn't push up anymore. We didn't have the ability or motivation to push up and I'm very angry that we played like this.

"We had some minutes where we showed what we can do and in 25 minutes of the second half we showed we could have very good possession, go in behind and have the chances to score again.

"We were s***. It's not the first time we go a goal up and we don't try to play football anymore. We just sink," he added.

"That's not the way we want to play. Half of the team want to play and try to score again, the other half of the team want to defend and sit deep. That's not the way it works.

"The coach is very clear in what he wants. But everyone has to do it."

Jaquob Crooke

• West Ham United F.C.
• Premier League
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