BT pundit makes West Ham United penalty claim in 1st half v Silkeborg
West Ham United were awarded a first-half penalty away at Silkeborg and Steve McManaman agreed with the decision of the referee.
A cross-field ball was headed the way of Maxwel Cornet in the Danish side’s 18-yard box after they had taken a shock lead early on but the Ivorian was pushed over as he went to control the ball.
The referee did not hesitate to point to the spot and allow Manuel Lanzini to draw the Irons level on the artificial pitch in Denmark.
McManaman had the benefit of watching it again on replay, unlike the referee in the middle, and came to the conclusion that he had made a good decision.
“Coufal does really well and there is a slight push,” McManaman said on BT Sport 2 [15 September, 08:12pm]. “Whether it’s enough for him to go down too easy is to be debated but it’s a push so it’s a foul, therefore it’s a penalty.”
Anywhere else
The vast majority of football fans will have at one stage in their life uttered the words ‘if that was anywhere else on the pitch, he gives a free-kick’ and that is what happened here.
That phrase is usually said when a penalty hasn’t been given but the man in the middle tonight was aware enough to realise that a foul is a foul no matter where on the field of play it happens.
Weaker officials would have waved play on in front of a packed house of passionate home supporters but only the very best can whistle in the European competitions.
It was a much-needed golden chance for West Ham too having started slowly despite the large amount of possession they were allowed by their hosts.
They were able to build on the gift they were given and set themselves up for a second successive win in the Europa Conference League group stage.