West Ham loan star Jesse Lingard came out fighting after the Hammers were dealt a blow in their push for UEFA Champions League qualification on Saturday.
David Moyes’ side were beaten 1-0 by nearest rivals Chelsea and usurped in the Premier League table in the process.
Despite admitting being second-best for much of the contest, Moyes and co were aggrieved by the decision to send Fabian Balbuena off in the second half after clearing the ball before catching Ben Chilwell.
Having watched his manager voice his displeasure post-match, the 28-year-old ace on loan from Manchester United took to Instagram to express his own feelings.
Lingard posted a dejected picture with the caption: ‘“Heads up and keep fighting. Still five games left P.S VAR IS A JOKE #believe.”
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/COD_GFxJIUu/?igshid=1d2t4u2nen9lm
Teammates Declan Rice and Darren Randolph replied with positivity, whilst the latter also seemed to take a jibe towards the officiating, claiming it was ‘Us against everyone else’.
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Although the decision may not have changed the outcome, it was unfortunately another in a long line of debatable calls involving VAR this season.
The fallout continues and West Ham are likely to appeal the dismissal and Balbuena’s subsequent suspension.
Should the outcome be positive for the Hammers, it would be the second time this season a player has been found to have been wrongfully sent off, after Tomas Soucek’s rescinded red card.
