Bournemouth, Dec 17: Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was left complaining despite Cherries substitute Enes Unal curling home a brilliant last-minute free-kick to deny West Ham victory in a dramatic Premier League meeting.
Iraola said he knew the Turkey forward would go close when presented with the opportunity from 30 yards because of the amount of practice he puts in.
“Everyone knows he can do that,” said Iraola. “He trains a lot. It was far out but we knew if it wasn’t a goal it would be close.”
What irritated Iraola was that Bournemouth needed an amazing ninth Premier League goal of the campaign scored after 85 minutes to get their point.
He was furious at the penalty Lucas Paqueta converted five minutes from time, which seemed set to give the Hammers a 10th victory in 11 Monday night league games.
Video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury told referee Chris Kavanagh to go to the screen after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross flicked off Tyler Adams’ outstretched hand.
“We spoke with the referees before the start of the season,” said Iraola. “They gave an instruction for us not to tell players to defend with arms behind their back because it is not natural.
“I said, ‘Are you sure, because I don’t want it to cost us?’. They told us it wouldn’t. First one, penalty. It was natural. Anyone who has played football knows when you run to block [the ball], you finish with one hand up and one hand down.
“Sometimes referees make mistakes and it goes against you. You have to deal with that. This one, they explained and spent five minutes discussing it. The first time it happens, it is a penalty. Now I don’t know what they will tell us next summer.”
A point was the least Bournemouth deserved after they peppered the West Ham goal with 29 shots, only to be denied on five separate occasions by visiting keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
It was enough for the home side to climb above Aston Villa into the top six. West Ham remain in 14th, having avoided defeat for two league games in a row for only the third time this season.
The point for West Ham should give Julen Lopetegui a bit more breathing space, following on from last week’s victory over Wolves, although he will feel his side should have held on for the win having taken the lead so late.Yet Iraola also has cause to grumble.Bournemouth are an excellent team but struggle to turn their superiority into goals.Even in victory over Tottenham in their previous home game, the feeling was the margin of the win should have been greater than a single goal.
On this occasion, 29 shots still weren’t enough for all three points. (Agencies)
