Sheffield United 1 West Ham 0: VAR costs Hammers a point after injury-time equaliser as Martin howler gifts Blades goal
WEST HAM sub keeper David Martin gifted Sheffield United victory in a game once again marred with VAR controversy.
Sub Robert Snodgrass thought he had rescued the Hammers a point in the 92nd minute.
But his ‘goal’ was ruled out with Declan Rice adjudged to have handballed in the lead-up.
West Ham boss David Moyes will be fuming with the decision, with the ball bouncing onto Rice’s arm through no fault of his own.
And it will be a bitter pill for Hammers sub keeper David Martin, who thought his blushes were finally spared.
Martin entered the game in the 15th minute when Lukasz Fabianski went off injured.
But the son of Hammers legend Alvin Martin probably wished he didn’t after his howler in the early stages of the second half.
He failed to find Fabio Balbuena from a pass out of the box, it was intercepted by John Fleck who laid in Oli McBurnie to score what turned out to be the winner.
Chris Wilder’s side should have increased their lead but had to survive some anxious moments.
West Ham’s Sebastien Haller had a goal ruled out for offside and keeper Dean Henderson made a couple of sharp saves before the dramatic VAR intervention.
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Sheffield United moved up three places into fifth with 32 points from 22 games, four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
It was a first loss for West Ham since David Moyes returned for a second stint in charge after Manuel Pellegrini was sacked on December 28 following defeat by Leicester City.
They remain in trouble in 16th place, two points above the bottom three.