West Ham assistant coach Billy McKinlay insists their preseason defeat at Rennes was a good hit-out.

The Hammers lost 3-1 on Saturday, with Tomas Soucek scoring the Irons' goal.

McKinlay told whufc.com: "This was a really good test for our lads.

"We expected that. It was the game we needed after the last two or three that we've been involved in. We knew it was going to be a difficult game and that's what it turned out to be.

"We're going to start the Premier League season at AFC Bournemouth so we're going to be straight at it, in terms of the levels that come with being in the Premier League, so we need to play games like this that are going to give us the best preparation for that. We understand that and this was a really, really tough game for us.

"We're disappointed with some aspects of it and pleased with some other aspects, but it was just what was needed for the team.

"I think we're happy with where the lads are at. We've got a bit of work to do, as we could see, and I think we tired a little bit in the end.

"They made more changes than we did and I think they saw the benefit of that. They played some good stuff, but so did we, but once they made the changes and freshened it up then we were slowing a bit in term of the physical aspect."