Parker calls first half poor after Cardiff comeback

Scott Parker had little time with West Ham before his first match, and the first half at Cardiff gave him plenty to address. Parker told the club he had met the players for the first time that morning. He called their first-half display poor, pointing to passive play without the ball and too many backwards passes.

West Ham trailed 3-0 at the break but drew 3-3 through second-half goals from Divine Mukasa, Arne Engels and Max Kilman. Parker praised the players' character and their more forceful attacking play after half-time. He said he would take what he had learnt into the trip to Blackburn, when he expected to have more influence on the team.