IT’S always disappointing to lose a game late on, particularly if a vital goal comes following an error.

Declan Rice made a mistake in ducking under Aaron Ramsey’s cross, which allowed Arsenal to regain their lead with less than 10 minutes remaining and result in West Ham United capitulating in the 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

But I was disappointed to see Hammers boss David Moyes publicly criticise Rice for his error after the game.

I don’t like managers that criticise their own players.

Rice is only a young kid, he is 19, and now isn’t the time for Moyes to be criticising his players in public.

West Ham are still only six points above the bottom three and when you’re going into the final weeks of the season with your Premier League status hanging in the balance, you need to stick together.

Rice has been fantastic this season.

West Ham got lucky in being able to sign him because he was originally at Chelsea.

He left Stamford Bridge and West Ham managed to pick him up.

Rice has been superb this season and he was thrown in at the deep end.

He has done West Ham a favour because he has been fit throughout the season and he has been in great form.

The Hammers have been forced to deal with a number of injuries to defenders at various stages of the season and without Rice being at the level he is already at, West Ham would be even further down the Premier League table.

I am against managers criticising their players, but if Moyes is willing to go public with his criticisms, he should have also been scathing towards Arthur Masuaku.

The left wing-back moved out of the way of Nacho Monreal’s opener when he was on the post from the corner. He should have dealt with the strike - he was put on the post so it was his job.

Rice made a bad decision but he will learn.