West Ham 2-0 Bournemouth (Zouma ’45, Benrahma ’90+2 P)
Two more moments of VAR controversy saw West Ham claim a controversial, if deserved, victory over Bournemouth to move into the top half of the Premier League for the first time this season.
One of the seven teams they leapfrogged was visitors Bournemouth, whose bright start under interim manager Gary O’Neil now seems to be fading.
O’Neil was clearly horrified that Kurt Zouma’s opening goal just before half-time was allowed to stand in spite of replays clearly showing that the ball bounced up off the hand of Thilo Kehrer as a West Ham corner came in.
Referee David Coote then awarded an injury-time penalty to West Ham, converted by Said Benrahma, on the advice of VAR after Vladimir Coufal’s cross struck the arm of Jordan Zemura.
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Zouma’s goal was the more pivotal, however. The ball stayed in play prior to Tomas Soucek nodding it forward and Zouma glancing it over the line.
While Kehrer’s touch was accidental and didn’t lead immediately lead to the goal, it was undoubtedly central to it, a point made vociferously by O’Neil as the teams left the field for half-time.
West Ham manager David Moyes suggested after his side’s recent draw at Southampton that the VAR official that day should have gone to Specsavers. He will have been glad on this occasion that video referee Mike Dean hadn’t. Or at least that he chose to interpret this season’s change of law literally.
West Ham have broken the deadlock!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 24, 2022#WHUBOU pic.twitter.com/X4n9JVrA5Z
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 24, 2022
"If the handball would have immediately led to a goal it would have been disallowed."
Stockley Park have explained why West Ham's goal was allowed to stand after the ball struck Thilo Kehrer's hand in the build up pic.twitter.com/DXMAg4JT9E
The early exchanges were notable for a Benrahma free-kick from out wide which was whipped straight into the side netting, while at the other end, Dominic Solanke’s industry caused a momentary intake of breath as the ball ricocheted around the West Ham area.
It took a moment of ingenuity from Jarrod Bowen after 19 minutes to inject some urgency into West Ham play that was too sterile at times.
The striker dropped deeper before floating a reverse chip into the path of Ben Johnson whose low cross eventually led to Flynn Downes striking his shot into the body of Chris Mepham.
Aaron Cresswell’s follow-up was then deflected over bar before Soucek saw another close-range effort saved by Bournemouth keeper Neto a minute later.
It seemed the game would limp to half-time as badly as the Bournemouth players, who required treatment for a succession of leg injuries.
It was after Solanke went down for a second time in the 45th minute and was replaced by Kieffer Moore that the disruption of play was followed by West Ham’s opening goal.
The decision to award it stood in absolute contrast to the stadium announcement that it had been ruled out by VAR for offside at the very moment that Bournemouth kicked off for the restart.
O’Neil’s mood would not have been helped by having to replace Neto, another injury victim at half-time, with Mark Travers.
A spell of West Ham pressure at the beginning of the second period forced brought two more substitutions by the visitors just before the hour.
Declan Rice then struck a fierce dipping shot which Travers parried out away as the home side exerted total control.
Given the weekend results which had pushed West Ham down to 17th place, victory felt like an imperative.
Moyes’ side have just three Premier League fixtures left prior to the World Cup. Returning from Qatar to a relegation battle would offer less of a lure with which to attract any new signings in the January transfer window. Tenth place looks much more appetising.
Player ratings
West Ham United (4-2-3-1)
Fabianski 6; Johnson 6, Zouma 7, Kehrer 6, Cresswell 7; Soucek 7, Rice 7; Bowen 8 (Coufal 88, 6), Downes 6 (Fornals 88, 6), Benrahma 7; Scamacca 6 (Antonio 74, 7)
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1)
Neto 6 (Travers 46, 6); Fredericks 6 (Zemura 57, 6), Mepham 7, Senesi 6, Smith 6; Cook 6, Lerma 6; Christie 5 (Anthony 57, 6), Billing 6, Tavernier 5; Solanke 7 (Moore 45, 6)
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