West Ham boss Slaven Bilic refutes lack of discipline suggestions

Slaven Bilic has denied there is a lack of discipline at West Ham.

The Hammers boss will be without Andy Carroll against Brighton on Friday night after the striker's red card, for two elbows in just over two minutes, during the draw at Burnley last weekend.

New signing Marko Arnautovic also saw red at Southampton earlier this season, potentially costing West Ham more points.

In total Hammers players have been shown 12 red cards since Bilic took over in 2015, but the Croatian insisted: "Is there a lack of discipline? I don't think so.

"None of these red cards were from a typical lack of discipline. Nobody headbutted anyone.

"Andy's one, two yellows, was basically stupid.

"But many of the red cards we appealed and they were ruled out - three or four, or even five, were completely big mistakes from the referees.

"I don't remember one that I would connect with lack of discipline and letting the team down."

Speculation over Bilic's future has eased in recent weeks, but he knows a poor result at home to the newly-promoted Seagulls will bring the storm clouds back.

"It's calm at the moment but it can change tomorrow night," he added.

"We are still there, there are five teams on eight points. Whoever gets three points tomorrow, or after the weekend, is going have a calm week.

"But then you have those hurricanes, there's no point trying to think about that.

"You have no time and no need to concentrate on those things, if you focus on that you have a problem. You concentrate on what you can effect, and then you can influence the pressure.

"You can ease the pressure with a new game but to talk about long-term stability you need a good run, five, six, seven or eight games, that's the rule for every manager."

As well as Carroll, Bilic will be without Diafra Sakho, who has a minor back injury, but Javier Hernandez is expected to be fit despite a hamstring niggle.