Fan blogger Joe Difford reflects on Sunday's rollercoaster draw with Leicester City
Fan blogger Joe Difford looks back at Sunday's rollercoaster draw with Leicester City...
Considering how many penalties Leicester City have been awarded this season, it is no surprise that spot kicks were a key part of Sunday afternoon's tie. Some were scored, some were waved away and some lead to red cards in a dramatic clash at the King Power Stadium.
Before we get to the first of many penalty incidents, we'll address a few other moments of importance. The first coming just sixty seconds into the game as Dimitri Payet's free kick was headed on by Cheikhou Kouyate, but his effort was pushed onto one post by Kasper Schmeichel's fingertips, before rolling across the line and hitting the other.
A quick break away handed the home side the lead within 20 minutes, as they looked to edge even closer to doing the unthinkable; lift the Premier League trophy. An incisive breakaway saw the ball played through to Jamie Vardy, and the striker finished with aplomb, as he has been doing all season.
Vardy picked up what was to be the first of his two yellow cards just ten minutes later for a bad foul, and saw red just ten minutes into the second half. With his side already one goal up, the record holder felt the need to try and con the referee into awarding his side a penalty by diving as Angelo Ogbonna closed him down.
Slaven Bilic saw the opportunity to strike and brought on Manuel Lanzini and Enner Valencia within the next ten minutes, and soon after we were level courtesy of, you guessed it, a penalty.
Having already pushed Winston Reid over when the ball wasn't in play, Wes Morgan pulled the defender down during a corner and the referee pointed to the spot. Andy Carroll, desperate to force his way into the England side for the upcoming Euross, finished coolly, with Mark Noble having been substituted earlier.
The equaliser came just minutes later as Leicester fans began to fear the worst, this time Michail Antonio breaking down the right hand side fantastically before crossing the ball into Aaron Cresswell, who brought it down and glided the ball with power and precision into the net from the edge of the area.
Antonio has struggled to get on the goal and assist sheet recently due to his new right back role, but he was at his best on Sunday when allowed to get forward, and this goal showed exactly what he is capable of.
Just seconds from time, Robert Huth was wrestled to the ground by Ogbonna but the referee ignored protests for a penalty. It seemed like the most obvious foul of the entire game and having missed it, the official seemed intent on righting his wrongs, as he gave the hosts a penalty after Andy Carroll fairly muscled Jeffrey Schlupp off the ball.
Leonardo Ulloa rescued a point as the Foxes moved closer to mathematically winning the league, and a point does keep us within touching distance of fifth place.
A few frustrating results brought about by a number of questionable refereeing decisions mean that fourth place is probably out of reach now, but a top six finish as we move into the Olympic Stadium caps a fantastic season and one Slaven Bilic, the whole squad and the 12th man, our fans, should be incredibly proud of.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
Considering how many penalties Leicester City have been awarded this season, it is no surprise that spot kicks were a key part of Sunday afternoon's tie. Some were scored, some were waved away and some lead to red cards in a dramatic clash at the King Power Stadium.
Before we get to the first of many penalty incidents, we'll address a few other moments of importance. The first coming just sixty seconds into the game as Dimitri Payet's free kick was headed on by Cheikhou Kouyate, but his effort was pushed onto one post by Kasper Schmeichel's fingertips, before rolling across the line and hitting the other.
A quick break away handed the home side the lead within 20 minutes, as they looked to edge even closer to doing the unthinkable; lift the Premier League trophy. An incisive breakaway saw the ball played through to Jamie Vardy, and the striker finished with aplomb, as he has been doing all season.
Vardy picked up what was to be the first of his two yellow cards just ten minutes later for a bad foul, and saw red just ten minutes into the second half. With his side already one goal up, the record holder felt the need to try and con the referee into awarding his side a penalty by diving as Angelo Ogbonna closed him down.
Slaven Bilic saw the opportunity to strike and brought on Manuel Lanzini and Enner Valencia within the next ten minutes, and soon after we were level courtesy of, you guessed it, a penalty.
Having already pushed Winston Reid over when the ball wasn't in play, Wes Morgan pulled the defender down during a corner and the referee pointed to the spot. Andy Carroll, desperate to force his way into the England side for the upcoming Euross, finished coolly, with Mark Noble having been substituted earlier.
The equaliser came just minutes later as Leicester fans began to fear the worst, this time Michail Antonio breaking down the right hand side fantastically before crossing the ball into Aaron Cresswell, who brought it down and glided the ball with power and precision into the net from the edge of the area.
Antonio has struggled to get on the goal and assist sheet recently due to his new right back role, but he was at his best on Sunday when allowed to get forward, and this goal showed exactly what he is capable of.
Just seconds from time, Robert Huth was wrestled to the ground by Ogbonna but the referee ignored protests for a penalty. It seemed like the most obvious foul of the entire game and having missed it, the official seemed intent on righting his wrongs, as he gave the hosts a penalty after Andy Carroll fairly muscled Jeffrey Schlupp off the ball.
Leonardo Ulloa rescued a point as the Foxes moved closer to mathematically winning the league, and a point does keep us within touching distance of fifth place.
A few frustrating results brought about by a number of questionable refereeing decisions mean that fourth place is probably out of reach now, but a top six finish as we move into the Olympic Stadium caps a fantastic season and one Slaven Bilic, the whole squad and the 12th man, our fans, should be incredibly proud of.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com