Push West Ham’s poor performance aside for a moment, referee Anthony Taylor’s performance was even worse.
We have already learned a thing or two factual regarding the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester from Alasdair Hooper’s earlier article, so as a West Ham fan, I find it suitable to moan a bit about poor refereeing that ultimately led to West Ham’s demise.
Yes, I agree, the Hammers should have played better, but Anthony Taylor certainly did no favours.
I hope, along with many others, that Taylor faces an inquiry at work on Monday morning after his immaculately horrible performance in front of 35,000 fans on Claret and Blue Day at the Boleyn Ground. West Ham’s overall performance was not up to scratch either, so what a way to play in the last first game ever at Upton Park.
Referee Taylor’s first controversial decision came when Diafra Sakho, possibly receiving some poetic justice following his arrest on alleged domestic abuse accusations made a fortnight ago, was brought down by what can only be described as a clothesline from Leicester ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel late in the first-half.
Just inside the penalty box, Taylor decided to award nothing to West Ham. Sakho stayed on the ground a while, but to no avail as Anthony and Schmeichel told the Senegalese striker to get up.
How on Earth Taylor missed the clear impediment of Sakho delivered by the Danish goalkeeper is mind-boggling. It was much like the challenge Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had on Bafetimbi Gomis of Swansea a week earlier (only an arm instead of a leg used), and should have granted the same result: a red card and a penalty kick.
There is no guarantee penalty-specialist Mark Noble slots away the ensuing kick, but that would have left West Ham attacking a ten-man Leicester for the whole second half, and it would most likely have avoided the Adrian red card decision.
In second-half stoppage time, Adrian went forward to attack a corner kick, and as he turned and tried to settle the ball headed clear out of the 18-yard box, his spikes found Leicester striker Jamie Vardy’s body.
At first, I was sure referee Taylor would let this challenge slide. There was no malicious intent behind the challenge unlike Schmeichel’s clothesline. Also, I figured Taylor would see this as a makeup challenge on another player out of line. Just last week Vardy racially abused a Japanese man at a casino, and was given a heavy fine.
This time Taylor did not let justice run its course against Vardy. The red card was shown to Adrian, forcing Carl Jenkinson to finish the match in goal (still a better option than Darren Randolph. Rob Green, quick!)
The absurdity of it all Saturday will leave West Ham fans and players scratching their heads, and hopefully force Anthony Taylor packing his bags.
Taylor is no real excuse for the West Ham loss. The Hammers needed to perform better than they did. We learned a lot about the Hammers. But doesn’t it feel nice to slag off the referee, just a little bit? The injustice of it all. The League, the media, why not, the whole world is out against West Ham!
There, now focus on next week and Darren Randolph starting between the sticks… Actually, maybe forget that part too.
