Dermot Gallagher shares immediate reaction to Brighton penalty v West Ham United
West Ham United suffered a third straight defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday and it was an early penalty that cost them.
Recently signed Thilo Kehrer dived into a challenge on the line of the penalty area which brought down Danny Welbeck as he bore down on goal for the visitors.
The referee quickly pointed to the spot despite the closeness to a potential free-kick but VAR quickly checked the decision and upheld the official’s initial opinion.
Ex-FIFA official Dermot Gallagher also believed it was a spot-kick at first glance and praised the way VAR confirmed the decision in rapid time.
“My immediate reaction was that it was a penalty,” Gallagher said on Ref Watch [Sky Sports News, 22 August, 11:45am]. “VAR obviously has to check but what people don’t realise is that the penalty area line belongs to the goalkeeper so therefore a foul there is a penalty.
“Welbeck’s boot was definitely on the penalty area line and that was the only check they did; was it inside or was it outside and it was done very quickly. There was no need to send the referee to the screen because it was factual.”
Foolish
If there was a moment that summed up the start to the season West Ham have had, then Kehrer’s desperate lunge is exactly that.
There was no real need to go flying into the tackle with Welbeck only heading to the wide areas of the 18-yard box if the German had stayed on his feet and he would never score from there.
But it seems to be brief lapses of judgement that have been extremely costly for the Irons this season with their opposition being very clinical when the big chance falls their way.
And when the attackers are yet to score in the Premier League this season, it puts even more pressure on the defenders to keep their heads and the ball out of the net.
Any conceded goal is now likely to deny West Ham all three points unless the attack can buck their ideas up and start putting away the chances they get.