Robbie Savage hits out over what he saw in first half of West Ham v Fulham
Robbie Savage has blasted how long the team of officials took to disallow Max Kilman’s goal for West Ham United against Fulham on Tuesday.
The Hammers – under the new helm of Graham Potter – thought they had nodded themselves in front through Max Kilman, but Fulham were momentarily spared by the offside flag, which turned into a confirmed offside from VAR Stuart Attwell.
Savage, live on TNT Sports (14 January, 19:57), argued it was an easy offside to spot and wondered why it had taken so long, despite acknowledging the officials came to the correct decision eventually.
The Irons did not let Kilman’s chalked-off goal affect them, overcoming a poor start to take a two-goal half-time lead in Potter’s first home game in charge.
“I think they held their line just perfectly, Fulham, the West Ham players went too early,” Savage said.
“Just look there, not sure who gets the touch but I think [offside] is the correct decision. It’s a great ball in, isn’t it?
“You can see by the line of the penalty area as well. They’ve come to the right decision but we could see instantaneously it was offside.”
West Ham United looking to reverse fortunes under Potter
West Ham are looking to pick up from where fans’ initial excitement tailed off at the start of the season now Potter and his staff have arrived.
Julen Lopetegui struggled to get his ideas across as the Hammers looked horrendously disjointed with some awful defending to boot – but the way they absorbed the early Fulham pressure to go in at the interval 2-0 in front was admirable.
It was a positivity that seemed missing under Lopetegui, and has given Hammers fans some eager encouragement heading into the second half, even if they must still be cautious against an array of dangerous attacking players in Marco Silva’s squad.
The anticipation over the summer at the London Stadium while expensive transfer acquisitions including Kilman were brought in was palpable, but disintegrated very quickly across the poor first half of the campaign.
If Potter can turn the Irons’ season around and climb the table, the sky can still be the limit in East London this season.
In other West Ham news, a Bundesliga defender enters the Hammers’ transfer radar for the winter window.
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