You’ll forgive David Moyes for feeling a little bit bit sick of the handball legislation.
Two targets dominated out towards Aston Villa, two penalties not given towards Burnley and Freiburg final week.
It took over 5 minutes, the longest VAR test in Premier League historical past, for officers to resolve whether or not the ball had hit Tomas Soucek’s arm earlier than it bounced off Jarrod Bowen and into the online for what appeared to be a late West Ham winner.
Gamers from each groups and referee Jarred Gillett had been left ready on the pitch as VAR official Tony Harrington checked out a number of angles of the incident. Gillett was then despatched to overview the footage on the pitch-side monitor. No objective was his choice, finally.
It had taken practically as lengthy for VAR to disallow Michail Antonio’s objective earlier within the second half, additionally for handball.
![It took over five minutes for referee Jarred Gillett to rule out Tomas Soucek's goal for handball](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/17/82567447-13207125-It_took_over_five_minutes_for_referee_Jarred_Gillett_to_rule_out-a-11_1710696972875.jpg)
It took over 5 minutes for referee Jarred Gillett to rule out Tomas Soucek’s objective for handball
![You would forgive West Ham boss David Moyes for feeling a little bit sick of the handball law](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/16/82567041-13207125-image-a-17_1710692396726.jpg)
You’ll forgive West Ham boss David Moyes for feeling a little bit bit sick of the handball legislation
![Nicolo Zaniolo swept the ball home after 79 minutes to rescue a point for Aston Villa](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/15/82566359-0-image-a-3_1710690393209.jpg)
Nicolo Zaniolo swept the ball residence after 79 minutes to rescue a degree for Aston Villa
Moyes marched onto the pitch at full-time to confront the officers however stated he gained’t communicate to PGMOL chief Howard Webb.
‘They haven’t gone for us, there may be not an terrible lot we are able to do,’ Moyes stated.
‘Burnley final week, Freiburg final week, two as we speak. Each considered one of them has gone towards us on handball conditions so it’s exhausting to take.
‘It is what VAR do, it is their choice not ours, we won’t do something about it.’
A sport that had been a story of two European hangovers, Aston Villa within the first half, West Ham within the second, someway stretched to so long as 103 minutes.
Antonio’s diving header, his first objective since August, had given West Ham a deserved lead on the break. However Villa appeared to discover a remedy for his or her tiredness within the second half as substitute Nicolo Zaniolo scored an vital equaliser 11 minutes from time.
‘We modified ways within the second half and we obtained probabilities to attain a objective,’ Villa boss Emery stated. ‘The second half, we deserve it greater than the primary half.’
Defeat for Villa right here after their 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham final week would have put a dent of their prime 4 hopes, even when West Ham had accomplished them a favour in midweek by placing English golf equipment on the right track for a fifth Champions League place.
Two efficiency locations are up for grabs because of the new format, with these decided by the 2 nations with the perfect common performances in all European competitions this time period.
England had been in third place, behind Italy and Germany, earlier than the Hammers’ win moved them as much as second.
![Michail Antonio deservedly put the hosts ahead with a diving header before the half hour mark](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/17/82566293-13207125-Michail_Antonio_deservedly_put_the_hosts_ahead_with_a_diving_hea-a-12_1710697022500.jpg)
Michail Antonio deservedly put the hosts forward with a diving header earlier than the half hour mark
![It was the striker's first goal since August in what has been an injury-plagued season for him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/16/82567187-13207125-image-a-19_1710692739009.jpg)
It was the striker’s first objective since August in what has been an injury-plagued season for him
![Antonio thought he had scored his and West Ham’s second after half-time before VAR intervened](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/16/82567091-13207125-image-a-18_1710692529890.jpg)
Antonio thought he had scored his and West Ham’s second after half-time earlier than VAR intervened
It additionally implies that if the FA Cup winners end within the prime seven, the eighth-place workforce will take the Europa Convention League spot.
Villa had been fourth coming into the sport and had been boosted by Spurs’ 3-0 defeat at Fulham a day earlier. However it appeared to do little to spring them into life within the opening levels.
Neither workforce may actually get a foothold within the first 20 minutes however West Ham started to get on prime halfway by means of the primary half. Soucek’s try and divert Lucas Paqueta’s shot previous Emi Martinez practically paid off however bounced simply broad. Martinez then made a tremendous save to maintain out Vladimir Coufal’s deflected strike.
However there was nothing Martinez may do about Antonio’s objective on the half hour mark. Coufal discovered area on the suitable and whipped in a pleasant cross between Villa’s centre backs. Antonio threw himself ahead, connecting with energy and guiding the ball into the underside proper nook.
Mohammed Kudus had the ball within the web earlier than half-time after firing in from a nook, however the referee’s whistle had already blown for a foul on Martinez.
That was the primary of many selections that may go towards Moyes’ aspect. The second got here when Antonio thought he’d scored his second simply after half-time. Bowen’s nook was headed on by Soucek and hit Antonio earlier than bouncing into the online. It was tough to see on replays, however VAR dominated that the ball had hit Antonio’s hand and the objective was disallowed.
From there, Villa improved. Youri Tielemans compelled Alphonse Areola right into a routine save from long-range however the goalkeeper made a greater cease to disclaim Ezri Konsa from contained in the field.
![Aston Villa escaped after two West Ham goals were ruled out for handball by the officials](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/17/82568473-13207125-image-a-14_1710697664986.jpg)
Aston Villa escaped after two West Ham targets had been dominated out for handball by the officers
![Moyes confronted the officials at full-time but will not speak to PGMOL chief Howard Webb](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/17/17/82568471-13207125-image-a-13_1710697511494.jpg)
Moyes confronted the officers at full-time however is not going to communicate to PGMOL chief Howard Webb
Villa had been steadily constructing stress and the house crowd in all probability sensed an equaliser was coming. It arrived within the 79th minute when Moussa Diaby drove down the suitable and despatched in a cross which was met by Zaniolo, who despatched the ball by means of Areola’s legs and into the online.
The momentum ought to have been with Villa nevertheless it was West Ham who got here closest to discovering a winner. A breakaway noticed Kudus tee up James Ward-Prowse, however his shot was fantastically blocked by Matty Money.
It appeared as if the Hammers had obtained that late winner when a mixture of Bowen and Soucek managed to power the ball over the road after Konstantinos Mavropanos had despatched a header goalwards. Villa instantly appealed for handball and 5 minutes later referee Gillett got here to the conclusion they had been proper.
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