Gus Poyet insisted he was to blame for Albion's 1-0 home defeat to West Ham.

Kevin Nolan fired home to secure a smash-and-grab win for the well-organised Hammers, who gave keeper Manuel Almunia great protection as Albion enjoyed copious amounts of possession and territory in the second period.

Nolan robbed Liam Bridcutt before hitting the winner but boss Poyet said: "We lost because of me.

"Don't blame any player. Blame me because I set up the way we play and I tell them to do what they do.

“One day it could be a defender, one day it could be the goalkeeper, one day it could be a midfielder. but it is my decision, not theirs.

“Slowly we are going to get better. If not, we are going to get better players."

Albion lost Gary Dicker with an ankle injury in the second half and expect a clearer indication tomorrow as to how badly the midfielder is hurt.

Poyet said: “We don't know yet. It was that kind of bad twist that we need to wait and check and get X-rays."