Slaven Bilic said his players were lacking confidence rather than ability after they slipped to a fifth defeat in six Premier League games.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admitted his side were second best after they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Southampton.
Goals from Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse condemned the Hammers to a fifth defeat in their sixth Premier League game of the season and Bilic admitted his players were forced to gamble in attack and paid the price.
The result left West Ham with a record of 14 goals conceded in their last four league games, but Bilic said he had seen an improvement from his defence in the early stages of the game.