Besides Julen Lopetegui’s team selection, the big talking point from West Ham’s draw with Fulham was a penalty incident.
Danny Ings struck late on to salvage a 1-1 draw at Fulham but West Ham know they got off lightly.
Fulham could and should have been in greater command of the game by the time Ings struck West Ham’s latest ever points-earning Premier League goal.
For West Ham fans all the talk afterwards was about Julen Lopetegui’s bemusing team selection.
For Fulham supporters and Marco Silva, it was about a penalty they felt they should’ve had.
Powerhouse winger Adama Traore burst through West Ham’s high defensive line.
He was bearing down on Alphonse Areola when Hammers star Max Kilman applied some last gasp pressure.
Controversy over Fulham penalty snub against West Ham
There was a coming together and Traore – who never looked confident of finishing the chance – went tumbling to the deck.
The referee snubbed Fulham protests for a penalty.
And their manager Silva – a reported target for West Ham in the summer – was apoplectic. The Portuguese was booked for protesting.
He hadn’t calmed down by full-time either.
“It’s a clear penalty in my opinion, it’s incredible how it’s not a penalty so this is difficult to accept,” Silva said after the game.
“It was clear for me and for you. We have to respect the decision but it had a massive impact in the game.
“If it’s a penalty, he should’ve been sent off, he didn’t try to play the ball. In that moment it’s a clear penalty and a clear red card.”
Lopetegui said he had not seen the incident back but that West Ham’s players assured him it wasn’t a penalty.
The issue for Fulham is that there was no clear and obvious error to correct.
That’s according to a top former Premier League ref.
Gallagher tells Silva why West Ham incident was not a penalty
Dermot Gallagher has told Silva why the West Ham incident at Fulham was not a penalty.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gallagher says referees have more leeway this season.
And he explained why VAR had ‘no right’ to get involved in the decision.
“Referees have let a little bit more go this season – there’s physical contact but is there enough to give a penalty?” Gallagher said.
“The referee felt no and I think that falls in line with how they’ve adopted this season.
“When there’s a split (in opinion) it has to be the referee’s call. It is one that can go either way. But the referee’s said no, the VAR has no right in my opinion to intervene.”
Pundit Stephen Warnock disagreed, telling Gallagher he thinks West Ham got away with one at Craven Cottage.
“I think it’s a penalty,” Warnock said.
“As soon as you get that arm on the shoulder you have every right to go down in the box. Kilman pushes across him and pushes him off balance, I think it’s a penalty.”
Fellow studio guest Sue Smith agreed with Gallagher that the right call was made.
Whatever anyone’s opinion, the fact is, the penalty wasn’t given.
West Ham rubbed salt in the wound with their late equaliser too.
And the Hammers have had plenty of VAR calls go against them since its introduction.
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