WEST HAM boss Avram Grant admitted Scott Parker's absence may have cost the team three points against Aston Villa.

Parker was missing with an Achilles injury on Saturday, and the Hammers missed his presence in midfield, as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat.

The result saw West Ham drop to second-bottom in the table, with Chelsea and Manchester City the next two games on the slate.

Grant admitted the pressure of the situation was difficult to deal with without Parker. “We dealt with the pressure very well in January,” he said. “We were the last team in the table and many points behind, it was a big pressure and everybody thought we were already relegated.

“So we were fighting with this pressure very well and dealt with it well, but today it was maybe because Scott Parker was missing, we got an injury after just a few minutes, we were more nervous than I expected.

“We need him (Parker) as soon as possible, but we need to wait and see if he can do it.”