The Hammers cause was not helped with the early dismissal of Mark Noble for two bookable offences.

"I've asked them for their verbal reaction after the game and not one of them can really hold up their hands and say they have performed," he said.

"Robert Green made a couple of saves and, for the first 10 minutes, we got into a couple of dangerous areas but it fizzled out.

"After that, it was Man City mainly who were the driving force.

"I was hoping to get to half-time either to make some changes or try and affect it somewhere, but the sending-off came along and I don't think we're equipped to play with 10-men at the moment," he added.

"So it's been a disappointing day all-round."

The former Charlton boss begrudgingly admitted Noble deserved his red card.

"At first I thought it was quite harsh. Obviously the handball was deliberate but that was the first challenge that he made and I couldn't quite see it."

"I've seen it since but I think (referee) Howard Webb has seen it that he's left the ground and you're in trouble when you leave the ground.

"He's lunged a bit and caught him."