Monday musings: How many more times?

Jamie Vardy became the 18th player this season to be sent off in a fixture involving West Ham as title-chasing Leicester held United to a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.

And once again the main post-match talking point this weekend was the referee's performance, rather than any piece of individual skill or flash of brilliance created by one of the 22 players on show.

This week it was Jon Moss' turn to be at the centre of the controversy as he saw fit to dismiss England striker Vardy for diving (a second bookable offence), award a penalty to West Ham after Wes Morgan pushed Winston Reid at a corner and then make amends in the final minute of extra time by awarding the Foxes possibly the weakest penalty you'll ever see.




Moss, whose last game involving West Ham resulted in him erroneously dismissing Cheik Kouyate at Blackburn in the FA Cup (a decision later overturned upon appeal) enjoyed the unusual distinction of being booed off by BOTH sets of supporters following Sunday's clash at the King Power Stadium.

But the sad fact is that these incidents will continue to occur until such time as the Premier League finally see fit to introduce video technology in all areas, as the professional game - especially in the top flight where the stakes are that much higher - is rife with cheats who seek to exploit every possible avenue in order to gain their team an advantage.

Back to the match itself for a moment, where West Ham gave another excellent account of themselves despite falling behind early against a side destined to be crowned league champions this season.

Vardy's first half goal looked like being enough to earn the Foxes yet another 1-0 win until Andy Carroll slotted home from the penalty spot with full time approaching following Morgan's foul on Reid. That in itself was something of a collector's item, being as it was West Ham's first Premier League penalty away from home in some FIVE years!





When Aaron Cresswell volleyed West Ham ahead with just four minutes of normal time remaining it looked as if the Irons had done enough to secure all three points; that was until Moss' crucial intervention, as he awarded the hosts a spot kick deep into added-on time to even things up from which Leonardo Ulloa profited.

The 2-2 draw - West Ham's seventh of an exhilarating season - should be considered a good point but it does the Hammers few favours in their quest for European football next season. The Champions League is all but gone now, whilst Liverpool's game in hand gives them the edge now in the race for sixth place.


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