By Azeem Siddiqui

6th Sep, 2022 | 8:10am

Graeme Souness’ comments regarding West Ham disallowed goal v Chelsea ‘nonsense’ - Danny Murphy

Danny Murphy believes Graeme Souness’ comments regarding West Ham disallowed equaliser against Chelsea were “nonsense”.

The Hammers suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Blues in controversial circumstances at Stamford Bridge on Saturday where Maxwel Cornet’s goal was disallowed for an apparent Jarrod Bowen foul on goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Souness, while speaking to talkSport on Monday (5 September), suggested that the referee got the decision right.  

“This is my take on it. First of all Bowen stumbled prior to going for this ball,” he said. “When he gets to the goalkeeper Mendy, he is actually on his right foot showing six studs to the goalkeeper.

“Now for me that is endangering the goalkeeper. He [Bowen] has no history of hurting people but I think the reason it happened was because he stumbled prior to all of that action. So for me, the referee got it right.”

Murphy, while talking on the same platform later in the day, stated that anyone who plays football knows it was not a foul.

“He [Souness] is the only one I heard and he has done that to be contentious,” he said. “I really believe that. He did that to go against the masses.

“If he really believes that then his eyesight is going. He is probably on red wine. Its nonsense. Anyone who knows and plays football knows it is not a foul. Why he said that only God knows. Everyone I have talked to bar none has said it is ridiculous.”

Harsh

The decision was definitely a harsh one for the players, the fans and the manager who was rightly furious and lambasted the match officials after the match.

But the reality is that none of that anger is of any use now as West Ham were clearly robbed of a worthy point in a match where they definitely did not deserve to lose the match.

However, it is about time to move on from this controversy and focus on future fixtures as there is still a lot at stake.

The Hammers came into the season hoping to better what they did last season where they finished in the seventh position in the league table and played in the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League.

After six matchdays, things are not looking as good as they should’ve as the Irons have just four points and they are already five behind seventh-placed Liverpool and therefore, the fans will be demanding more focus in the coming matches.