CITY 2 WEST HAM 2
Report by Eddie Blount
Forget the fact that there were no less than four contenders for Player of the Year on the pitch for this game for one participant played a bigger role in deciding the outcome than all four put together. Unfortunately it was referee John Moss!
City and West Ham might just as well have stayed in the dressing-room at half time and allowed Moss to strut about the pitch unaccompanied for all the impact in the second half that either team was allowed to have on the result.
With so much at stake for both teams what occurred was a travesty of justice for both teams but particularly for City as officious and totally inconsistent decision-making ruined the match as a contest that the better team might have won. As it was I cannot say which side was the better as the impact of Moss’s performance, particularly in the last half hour, turned the match into a pure lottery.
The game began in sensational fashion and City miraculously avoided going one down in the first West Ham attack. A dubious free kick, one of very many to follow, was headed goalwards by Kouyate and superbly tipped on to the keeper’s left post by Schmeichel for the ball to then hit the other post and rebound into his grateful arms. At such moments it seems as though the fates are smiling on you. Little did we know!
Huth should have scored from a corner after ten minutes so the match was initially evenly poised. Shortly afterwards Vardy was hauled down in the penalty area via an arm round his neck. It was a clear penalty but we have come to accept that this happens at set pieces, even though it should not. Referee Moss was not interested and City made nothing of it though the event was later to assume much greater significance.
As the half wore on the crowd became irritated by the referee’s seemingly inconsistent awarding of fouls which was somewhat akin to rugby union when a referee awards a penalty as a scrum collapses on the basis of guesswork. Bookings started to become frequent including Vardy for winning a ball in a tackle and presumably allowing the opponent to trip over his leg. I always get worried when the referee makes several bookings in the first half especially when most of them were unnecessary. I was right to be concerned.
All worries were temporarily put to one side as City took a 19th minute lead with a goal that illustrated why City are where they are and why matches can in the wrong hands become lotteries. After a West Ham corner, featuring wrestling by both sides that Giant Haystacks would have been proud of, Schmeichel made a long throw to Mahrez who beat his man and found the supporting Kante with a superb pass. Kante moved smoothly towards the box and slipped a fine pass to Vardy. He took one touch to control the ball and smashed a shot across their keeper into the corner of the net. Wonderful goal!
The rest of the first half was even but noticeably the Hammers were unable to create any further chances as the City defence stood firm and solid. They were not likely to concede easily. If only we knew what was to follow!
The second half was mainly uneventful for some 15 minutes, City defending comfortably even though West Ham had brought on Marmite striker Andy Carroll at half time. The turning point of the match – and possibly the season – was then reached. A ball over the top put Vardy ahead of the centre-backs and into their box. A hand was placed on his shoulder as the tackler moved in and body contact was made. Vardy went down – heavily! From a distance – and with not a moment’s hesitation – referee Moss sprinted forward eagerly pulling his card from his pocket to claim centre stage. Yellow was followed by red followed by pandemonium!
Of Moss’s three options – penalty, no foul, card – the card option was the worst by a factor of several. You have to be sure to take action which will be game-changing and Moss could not have been that certain. Good officials realise this and that crowds have not come to see them perform; poor officials cannot wait to show how fearless their decision-making can be.
City were of course emasculated by the sending-off of Vardy and resorted to ever more resolute defence. For over 20 minutes this was more than enough but then we had a further illustration of fearless decision-making! Moss had already warned Morgan and Huth for alleged skull-duggery at corners – interesting in itself as West Ham at both ends were every bit as involved as City. A half decent official would have realised that it was six of one, half a dozen of the other and got on with the game unless it was totally unacceptable.
However at the next corner the ball was headed clear, the players got on with the game and Moss gave a penalty!! Unbelievable! Morgan was alleged to have pulled back an opponent who could hardly wait to throw himself to the ground. Contributory negligence at the very least! No one in the ground thought a penalty was the appropriate decision apart from the fearless official. Match now completely ruined. Carroll scored comprehensively from the spot.
City were still reeling – not surprisingly- from this second (literal!) hammer-blow when Fuchs missed his first tackle of the season, a cross followed, headed away straight to Cresswell who scored with a stunning shot from the edge of the box. Misery complete. Or perhaps not!
City had hardly been over the halfway line after the sending- off but managed one final attack deep into added time. Schlupp forged towards the penalty area to be met by Carroll who nudged him off balance to topple out of the box. To general amazement Moss pointed to the spot, proving how indiscriminately fearless he was!
West Ham could not believe it particularly as Huth had been hauled to the deck minutes earlier in full view of the referee in an incident far more clear cut than the Morgan incident. Farcical! To great relief Ulloa kept his nerve from the spot and after all that had passed for a game of football City had some reward. Numerous wrongs almost make a right!
City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez (Amartey 78), Drinkwater, Kante, Albrighton (Schlupp 54), Okazaki (Ulloa 59), Vardy
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang (Carroll 46), Moses (Valencia 72), Noble (Lanzini 63), Kouyate, Payet, Emenike
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation