Shay Given rages at footage of what West Ham star did vs Chelsea: ‘You can’t do that’
West Ham’s defeat to Chelsea on Saturday was marred by ugly stoppage time scenes.
It was a brilliant game of football at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, as Chelsea beat West Ham 3-2 as they came from two goals down to claim all three points.
Jarrod Bowen had given West Ham the lead after just seven minutes, before Crysencio Summerville doubled the Hammers’ advantage with a superb strike on 36 minutes.
However, second half goals from Joao Pedro, Marc Cucurella and a 92nd-minute winner from Enzo Fernandez completed a remarkable comeback by the Blues.
Shay Given blasts Jean-Clair Todibo for added time brawl
With both Chelsea and West Ham battling at both ends of the Premier League table, and with London bragging rights at stake, this game was always going to be played on the edge.
And, with Chelsea’s dramatic stoppage time winner from Fernandez only moving West Ham closer towards relegation, some in claret and blue couldn’t keep their emotions in check.
The mass brawl kicked off with 95 minutes on the clock, as Adama Traore dragged down Cucurella near the corner flag, which prompted some pushing and shoving between Traore and Pedro.
Jean-Clair Todibo then came steaming in and grabbed hold of Pedro by the throat, which earned him a straight red card for violent conduct.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Shay Given blasted Todibo for his actions, with the Hammers defender now set to miss at least three crucial games.
“You see here Todibo, his eyes are gone, his head’s gone,” Given said.
“He grabs him (Pedro) around the neck: Gabby (Logan), you can’t do that. That picture goes around the world. It’s poor from him.
“The other thing is, it’s the last seconds of the game, Anthony Taylor has no choice but to send him off.
“Now he’s got a three-game suspension, and with West Ham right in trouble at the bottom, you’re losing one of your main centre-halves for three games: that’s a big, big loss.”
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Todibo’s ban only adds to West Ham transfer pressure
Nuno Espirito Santo was already known to be looking to sign a centre-back before Monday’s transfer deadline, and now Todibo’s suspension has only ramped up the importance of doing so.
Indeed, the Frenchman has every chance of seeing his three-game suspension extended by The FA due to the seriousness of the incident, and so he could be set for an extended period on the sidelines.
West Ham’s centre-back options are now stretched extremely thin, with just Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Ezra Mayers as natural players in that position.
As such, it’s surely now become crucial that Nuno does get at least one central defender through the London Stadium door before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
Stay up to date this winter with our West Ham transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at the London Stadium, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.