Alan Pardew insists Jake Livermore must have been provoked before West Ham fan clash
Wednesday 3 January 2018 00:11, UK
Alan Pardew says Jake Livermore must have been provoked after he was involved in an altercation with West Ham supporters during West Brom's 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium.
The England international, who was substituted in the 64th minute, was visibly angry and had to be prevented from reaching supporters just behind the dugout.
The circumstances that led to the exchange have yet to be confirmed and Pardew, when asked about the incident, believes it must have been a retaliatory move on the part of Livermore.
"I don't think he would have gone into the crowd unless he was provoked because I know Jake," the Baggies boss told Sky Sports. "I don't know anything other than that."
Andy Carroll struck twice as West Ham condemned West Brom to a 20th Premier League game without victory, while Pardew's wait for a win at the club stretched to eight games.
Pardew had wanted the Premier League to postpone this match as it came just two days after a gruelling 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Seven of the Baggies' weary starters against the Gunners kept their places at the London Stadium, but they were out on their feet by the time Carroll snatched three points in injury-time.
"That's a tough one to take, the two-day turnaround cost us in the end," Pardew added. "We just ran out of legs, we couldn't keep going.
"To concede in that manner is heart-breaking for the players. It was difficult for us, they had more energy than us and it showed.
"We should've done better in the second half, having been good in the first, where we were probably the better side. But in the second half we conceded possession a bit too much for my liking and unfortunately we've been undone.
"Did we manage the game well enough? Were we going to win? Ollie (Burke) should have taken the ball to the corner and seen the game out.
"But we're under pressure to get wins, committed players forward and, in that scenario, when you're on the run we're on, I understand it a bit, I'm frustrated but can understand it.
"Our form is obviously such that we need to do some changes, perhaps, but I cannot reflect on that tonight.
"It's such a disappointment to concede a goal like that given the effort we put in after two days turnaround. The effort was amazing."
