Dermot Gallagher shares ‘interesting’ detail in Max Kilman controversy in West Ham draw vs Bournemouth
Max Kilman has come under heavy scrutiny after avoiding a red card for West Ham against Bournemouth on Saturday.
West Ham secured a 2-2 draw away to Bournemouth despite being two goals up at half-time on the south coast.
Nuno Espirito Santo made changes that damaged the Hammers after Callum Wilson had scored two against Bournemouth.
The Cherries were afforded a route back into the game when Max Kilman gave a penalty away to Bournemouth for a bizarre handball.
There have been suggestions that Kilman should have been sent off, but Dermot Gallagher has sprung to his defence to reveal what happened at the Vitality to discredit these calls.
Jay Bothroyd wanted Max Kilman sent off vs Bournemouth
Wayne Rooney believes Kilman should have been sent off after what he believed was a clear goal-scoring opportunity for the home side.
The centre-back slid in and slapped the ball away from Evanilson, who was otherwise through on Alphonse Areola’s goal.
The Frenchman was in sensational form, but whether he could have made a save from so close is unclear.
Jay Bothroyd has suggested that the Bournemouth striker would have got a shot away, suggesting it was a goal-scoring opportunity.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on 24 November, the former Arsenal man suggested that a red card should have been shown to Kilman.
He said: “He’s done ever so well to get away with it. Evanilson is definitely going to shoot. I’m left-footed, and as soon as it comes, he’s going to put that in the bottom corner.
“He’s shaping up to do that, and Kilman has knocked the ball away. He should [have been sent off], he’s stopped a goalscoring opportunity, which means it should be a red card.“
It is fair to say that Gallagher disagreed with his co-host after what he saw at the Vitality.
Dermot Gallagher defends Kilman at West Ham
Kilman’s challenge was certainly deserving of a penalty award, with what was a stonewall handball inside his own box.
The Englishman’s decision was ill-advised as it ultimately sent the home side on their way to picking up a point from two goals down.
Bothroyd wanted more of a punishment for the Irons defender, although Gallagher was quick to defend him and suggested that a red card would be too much.
The former Premier League official noticed that no Bournemouth player was demanding a red card, which has helped enforce Thomas Bramall’s on-field decision.
He said: “I think the goalkeeper might be able to come out and get to the ball. I think there’s a little bit of doubt, and I think that doubt goes in the player’s defence.
“You’re not going to send a player off unless it’s obvious. The interesting thing is that not one person on the pitch thought red card, nobody thinks that, it’s only come from a post-match interview.“
There are certainly mixed opinions about the call, but either way, it feels as if the Hammers and Kilman got away with one.
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