Dermot Gallagher reacts to contentious incident in West Ham United v Aston Villa
Dermot Gallagher has reacted to the contentious penalty decision in the match between West Ham United and Aston Villa.
The Hammers lost the match 2-1 at the London Stadium on Saturday [17 August] in their opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Aston Villa got the better of the Irons in the first half but United were handed a lifeline when Matty Cash fouled Tomas Soucek. Lucas Paqueta converted the resulting penalty to level the score heading into the break.
Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, reacted to the incident on Ref Watch [Sky Sports, 19 August, 11:08] and offered his insight.
He said: “Cash touched the ball, there’s no doubt about that. Does touching the ball negate a foul? No. He does touch the ball, there’s no doubt about that, does he play the ball? I’m not so sure about that.
“I do know though that a lot of people think that this isn’t a foul. That’s what you have to stick with the referee’s call because it’s so tight.”
West Ham fail to make penalty count against Aston Villa
Now that the dust has settled following the match, whether or not the incident was a penalty had no determining outcome on the result.
The Aston Villa defenders will argue their case as the penalty cost them a clean sheet, but their side still left East London on the day with all three points.
West Ham were second best to everything. Excluding a few moments of brilliance from Mohammed Kudus in particular, they never looked like they would trouble their opponents.
Julen Lopetegui failed to capitalise on the lifeline from the penalty and the gulf in class between the two sides is a reminder that there is plenty more work to be done before the Hammers can consider themselves contenders for the European places this season.
The Hammers will be thrown into the deep end with matches against Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United on the horizon in the coming weeks.
Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez were the only two new signings to start the Premier League opener. Once all the recruits settle into life in England, the results will be expected to improve.
Tim Steidten has been busy in the summer transfer window and the activity has brought demands of instant success in East London, it’s time for Lopetegui to sink or swim.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers want Oliver Skipp amid a new Tottenham transfer twist.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.