Jose Fonte has insisted the West Ham players, not Slaven Bilic, is to blame for Wednesday's mauling by Manchester City.

Less than four weeks on from a 5-0 reverse in the FA Cup third round, Pep Guardiola's men were on hand to put another four past the Hammers at the London Stadium.

Fonte, making his debut after completing an £8 million move from Southampton last week, gave away a penalty in the second half to round off another dismal outing for West Ham.

Bilic described the game as 'Mission Impossible' for his players after full-time and now Fonte has defended his new manager by insisting the defeat solely lies with the players.

"We worked on a game plan during the week and when the game started we did not apply it," Fonte told the club's official website.

"We tried to over play in areas the manager said not to. We should have gone with a game plan that would be to explore the play behind and in the flanks and we need to improve.

"But I, and we, are prepared to work and to get it right. We started bad and when you give a team, like Man City a head start normally there is no way back.

"It is not what I want but I am prepared to put the work in, prepared to work and improve so we need to focus and improve.

"The fans are disappointed and we apologise and we want to put it right for them. They deserve everything and all our sacrifices and that is what we are going to do."