West Ham lose in heartbreaking fashion, VAR robs Snodgrass

West Ham traveled to Sheffield United with an extremely light team, with injuries biting, adversity piling up, and when it comes down to it, VAR robs the Hammers of a well-earned point in a tough fixture.

Team selection was as predicted with a few curious decisions mixed in. The formation was a three-at-the-back setup, but it was Aaron Cresswell who drew in as a center-back over Issa Diop in order to keep Arthur Masuaku in the team. The bench also featured three youth players, Goncalo Cardoso, Bernardo Rosa, and Jeremy Ngakia.

The game kicked off and so too did an unrelenting wave of Sheffield pressure. The Hammers spent the majority of the first half hemmed in their own end, especially in the opening 25 minutes. This furious opening 25 minutes also saw all of our worst nightmares come to fruition. Lukasz Fabianski kicked a pass out from the back and called for a substitution. The Polish keeper dropped to the pitch clutching his surgically repaired hip and was done for the night. Ominous times ahead.

David Martin was on the bench and stepped into action for Fabianski. The end of the first half would come with the Hammers having more sustained pressure but no goals for either side yet. Sheffield was the better side, but a flubbed shot from Felipe Anderson would see the best chance of the half wasted.

The second half started and shortly thereafter, Sheffield would be gifted the lead. Martin, who’s distribution is usually great, blew the ball past Fabian Balbuena, which was then squared across the goal to Ollie McBurnie for the lead. An unacceptable error to make by Martin and the Blades were up 1-0 in the 53rd minute.

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The Hammers would push back in this match, extending forward and repelling counterattacks from Sheffield for the remainder of the match. Roberto Snodgrass was introduced for Masuaku and the formation shifted to a 4-3-3 to try and spur something on. His first touch was on a free kick where he found Sebastien Haller who put the ball in the net but was just offside.

Snodgrass would eventually find himself on the shooting end of an attack in the dying second of the match. Declan Rice brought the ball down from an overhead nod on from Snodgrass. He would lay off the ball to the Scot who hit it first time and went nearside post and in. The lovely finish would level the Hammers for just a moment.

Elation turned to rage and disappointment for West Ham. VAR would determine a touch on Rice’s arm was enough to nullify the play due to illegal buildup. Rice was not looking at the ball, could not move out of the way of the header which was less than a foot from his arm, had his arm in a natural position, and continued on to run with the ball for ten more yards before passing it. There was nothing Rice could do about the incidental contact, but VAR wouldn’t be denied. The score was adjusted and the match would end 1-0 to Sheffield.

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VAR robbed the Hammers in this match, but their effort was not strong enough either. They deserved a point but were nowhere near good enough to deserve a win away at Bramall Lane. Sheffield plays a strong, disciplined game and West Ham did nowhere near enough to pressure them. Onward to Everton in what is looking like an early must-win game for Moyes’ men.