Panto Villain Madely Robs Hammers Of Undeserved Points

It is the Christmas season and down on the South Coast along with many other traditional holiday resorts Bournemouth do a roaring trade in Pantomime, currently Jack and the Bean Stalk is running at the Pavilion Theatre. If they suddenly need a back up Panto villain then they need look no further than referee Bobby Madley!

It is plainly obvious to anyone with eyes that the home team's last gasp equaliser was incorrectly given, Callum Wilson diverted a Nathan Ake header in, but the goal was initially disallowed for offside before Madley gave it, West Ham were mortified by the decision because Wilson had been in an offside position when Ake's header went across the goal, but worse than that his final touch was with his arm, a clear handball.

"I think he said the assistant referee only put his flag up to draw attention to it, and I've never heard of that ever," said David Moyes."To lose a goal like that is a killer - it's hard to take, If the assistant referee raises his flag, what would it be for? Offside? Arguably you could say that it was offside, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. But I can't give them any benefit of the doubt for their player raising his hand."

Moyes' anger would not have been entirely directed at the malfunctioning referee, because his team were woeful for large parts of the game and were only leading going in to the last minutes courtesy of two howlers from Asmir Begovic in the Bournemouth goal and some clinical finishing from 'Elbows' Arnoutovic who scored a brace despite wearing an incorrectly named shirt during the match!

James Collins put West Ham ahead early in the first half, before Dan Gosling equalised before the break, Ake then scored in the second half, only for Arnautovic to put the visitors within reach of a fifth league win of the season. It seemed that three points were in the bag when 'Elbows' followed up a Chicarito shot which Begovic had pushed straight in to his path, and then came the contentious equaliser.

Realistically Hammers were extremely fortunate to be in a winning position at all because Bournemouth deserved to win for the way they played, they had 26 attempts on goal but the result means they remain third from bottom, a point and a place below a West Ham side that rode their luck and could have been on the receiving end of a 'right hiding' if things had gone the host's way. As it is the feeling of being 'cheated' has to be off set by the reality of how poor West Ham are currently playing against the 'lesser' teams, the midfield in particular looks extremely vulnerable and is an area that David Moyes has clearly identified and knows needs strengthening with upmost urgency.

A final word from a very honest Cherries boss Eddie Howe."It looks like we might have got away with one there, but I thought a draw was the least we deserved. I know it's difficult for West Ham to take." You can say that again Eddie, all the good work done by beating Chelsea and drawing with Arsenal along with destroying Stoke has been negated by the two poor results against Newcastle and Bournemouth, two games that should have yielded at least three points! -Ed