West Ham United boss David Moyes felt his side's recent exertions caught up with them a little in Saturday's narrow defeat to Chelsea.

The Hammers were edged out in a tight London derby by Timo Werner's goal two minutes before the break, as Chelsea claimed the win which took them three points clear of their hosts.

Heading into the contest with a lengthy injury list, the manager observed that the Blues were able to call on a fresher squad for the clash, but said his team will come again for the final five matches, starting next weekend against Burnley.

"We were short - we felt short of players in areas where we needed some freshness snd we didn't have it. But I have to say the players did a great job. We didn't play so well in the first half, but we tweaked things a little bit in the second half and that made us better.

"For long periods we looked like having a chance of getting ourselves back into the game."

He added: "Their character too. The way they went about it in the second half to try and get themselves back into it. I thought they did really well."

The boss was bemused at the decision to send Fabian Balbuena off for his challenge on Ben Chilwell.

"I don't think for a minute that he tried to stand on Ben Chilwell's leg. It's been a weekend of these decisions and this is another."

Romford Recorder: Referee Chris Kavanagh checks on Chelsea's Ben Chilwell (floor) after he is fouled by West Ham United's Fabian Balbuena during the Premier League match at London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday April 24, 2021.Referee Chris Kavanagh checks on Chelsea's Ben Chilwell (floor) after he is fouled by West Ham United's Fabian Balbuena during the Premier League match at London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday April 24, 2021. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The Hammers still have five games left to go this season as they still chase down a spot in Europe.

"We're probably ahead of where we'd thought, but now we're in this position we want to get there. We want to try and get some form of European football, that's for sure.

"As I said in the media yesterday, I want to get the big one if I can. Today was a chance but we felt a little bit short with what we had at our disposal to get [that result] against what we know is a really good Chelsea team."

Moyes added: "That was one of the things where I thought we looked a little bit better today, but our play in the first half didn't do enough for me. I wasn't happy with that, the second half was better, but this is a Chelsea team who aren't conceding many goals.

"They've got a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in midweek, so I think their squad is really strong.

"They're able to change players around. We've not really had that with the injuries we've had recently, but hey, we go again.

"The players are doing a brilliant, brilliant job, they really are and I'm thrilled for how well they've been doing. It was a hard game for us today, though. It really was."