Unfair and unjust: Erik ten Hag seethes about controversial VAR call against West Ham

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was left furious with the on-field referee and VAR after his team lost 2-1 to West Ham on Sunday, October 28. West Ham were playing in the Premier League and were awarded a late penalty in extra time. which resulted in a narrow victory for Julen Lopetegui’s team.

Jarrod Bowen converted a controversial last-gasp penalty after Crysencio Summerville scored his first goal in a West Ham shirt as they climbed past their visitors to 13th in the table with 11 points after nine games. United, on the other hand, dropped to 14th position in the table, just three positions away from the relegation zone.

Manchester United vs West Ham: match report

Ten Hag spoke after the match and called the decision unjust and unfair. United had started the match well, but their failure to capitalize on their chances frustrated the visitors in London.

“This season we feel we have been wronged three times,” Ten Hag told the BBC. “We have to score, we have created so many chances. We should have been up by two or three.

“In the second half we forced it but we left them in the game. When you lose 1-0 it takes a big personality and character from the team and you have shown resilience to get back into it. Unfair and unjust the way we got the penalty.”

Bowen scored in the 92nd minute, heading to the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR review found Matthijs de Ligt had clipped Danny Ings’ leg, a decision that left Ten Hag shaking his head. Bowen launched a low penalty just inside the post, out of the hands of Andre Onana who dived in the right direction.

“I talked to (the officials),” Ten Hag said. “But the decision has been made. There is no going back and that is football.”

Although Man United’s defeat was only the second in ten games in all competitions, it will put renewed pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. West Ham were fortunate not to concede in a first half dominated by their northern rivals and were much brighter in the second after manager Julen Lopetegui brought on Summerville and Tomas Soucek.

“Happy with the three points. We are happy for the fans and players, they deserve this victory after suffering a lot in the first half,” Lopetegui said.

“In the second half we changed several things and the first half was for them, but the second was for us. We were able to compete better and win the match.”

Summerville put them on the scoreboard in the 74th minute when he slid in at full speed to poke home Danny Ings’ scuffed shot.

Seven minutes later, Casemiro silenced the home fans when Diogo Dalot headed across goal from a cross, Joshua Zirkzee assisted and the Brazilian midfielder nodded home at the back post.

However, the traveling supporters’ celebration was short-lived and after twelve minutes of extra time they had to regret another defeat.

Ten Hag’s side will regret the missed opportunities, especially in the first half, starting with a long shot within two minutes that Alejandro Garnacho rattled off the crossbar.

“We have to look in the mirror, we are not scoring in a good game on our part,” said Ten Hag.

Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski made a great save in first-half stoppage time, stretching to get his fingertips on Casemiro’s header from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick.

West Ham suffered a narrow miss early in the second half when Michail Antonio sprinted towards goal as Onana raced out to stop him, with the keeper taking a blow to the head. Onana was under medical attention for several minutes before play resumed.