The Blues did not take several chances and were hit by a sucker-punch when the home side took the lead through Jack Collison on 71 minutes.
Caicedo, Robinho & Elano all went close as City tried to get back in the time left but afterwards the Manager could only rue what might have been.
He said, “I thought our performance was good, on the balance of play we created four or five really good chances but did not take them.
“West Ham did not create a great deal, but in the second half they had one chance and took it. Unfortunately for us that has shaped the game. I thought it was one of our best away performances of the season, including Liverpool, but we did not take the chances and get the goal we needed.
“Goals change games, it’s an old cliché but it is absolutely true. If we had scored first West Ham would have had to come out at us, which is when we can pick teams off. But when we concede first we find it difficult to put pressure on. Overall the performance was fine but we are very disappointed to lose away from home again.
“We were the away side but West Ham for long periods played like the away side trying to repel attacks. Attitude and performance-wise I am more than happy, but result wise we have to be disappointed because that was a game we should have won.”
City head home with several injury worries; Micah Richards left the game after just 15 minutes, Robinho hobbled off just before the end and Craig Bellamy was also forced out of the action in the second half. Of the trio, Hughes added:
“Craig will see the knee surgeon that he has seen before, he has a bit of pain on his patella. We hope it is nothing serious, we do not anticipate that it will be and it will be checked out on Monday. Robbie has gone over on his ankle, it is a similar one to when he was injured against Arsenal, it could be the same injury and he could be out for Wednesday as well.
“Micah had a stiff hamstring yesterday, had some work with the physios last night and it eased off. It was not an actual pull, but he went into a challenge and felt it stiffen up almost immediately. We hope we can work on it and release the tightness, hopefully it is not a strain because that would take him out for a number of weeks.”
