A rather drab and dull affair at Saint Mary’s sparked into life after 61 minutes when goalkeeper Adrian was sent off for handling the ball outside of the area which swung the game in Southampton’s favour, but they failed to make it count as the game ended in a scoreless draw, a point gained for West Ham rather than two points lost it seems.
A poor first half was not one to remember, but West Ham’s resiliency and solid defending was on show as they prevented the Saints from making their extra man advantage count dividends.
Referee Craig Pawson decided to send off Adrian after he fell on the ball hands first trying to claim a foul off the impeding Sadio Mane. Adrian decided to try and dink the ball past Mane when it was played back to him, but his control let him down and Mane was there to pounce. A clash of legs and the ball is rolling to the edge of the box with no defensive cover, Mane appears to place both hands on Adrian and barge him to the floor, with the Spaniard trying to claim a free kick as he handled the ball, but Pawson deemed otherwise, and sent off Adrian.
“It was a foul on our goalkeeper before he handballs it. There’s no doubt Sadio Mané’s got his hands all over Adrián and we’ve had to cope with that sending off. I suggest that [the head of referees] Mike Riley does something that I can’t suggest publicly. We will appeal, immediately. I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t get off.” – Allardyce post-game.
Jussi Jaaskelainen came on for Carlton Cole, West Ham’s last substitution at this point, as the Hammers went to ‘Park the Bus’ so to speak, and prevent Southampton from scoring. They had a number of chances, but Jussi was equal to them, and managed to keep an all important clean sheet, but at what cost?
Andy Carroll picked up yet another injury, and left the game on crutches. He is due for a scan on his knee injury today, the same one he injured a few games back, but early reports suggest he is set to miss up to a month’s worth of action.
“It’s the same knee, he got kicked in the back of the knee and felt something wrong. He stayed up and was a nuisance. I just hope that staying on hasn’t done any more damage. He got fit in two and a half weeks [after the Liverpool game] but clearly it’s going to take longer this time because it’s the same injury.” – Allardyce post-game.
As for Adrian’s red card, it is only a one game suspension, which would mean he is set to miss the FA Cup Fifth Round tie away to West Brom on Saturday afternoon, but West Ham have confirmed they have appealed the sending off on grounds that Adrian was fouled before he handled the ball, and also that Mane was going away from goal, and therefore not a goalscoring opportunity, deeming the offence at worst a yellow card. Should the decision be upheld, Jussi will again deputise for the suspended Adrian.
