West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola refused to criticise the club's owners after their defeat to Stoke City.

Zola was critical of David Sullivan's decision to write an open letter to supporters blasting the team's performance in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Wolves as "pathetic" and "appalling".

But Zola reported that both Sullivan and co-owner David Gold had been "supportive" after the game.

"The owners are behind us. They saw the team tried very hard today. They were supportive and that is a very good starting point," he said.

"The players will appreciate that. The players are feeling down and I am feeling down and to have that support is very good."