DAVID Moyes claimed the referee was the reason his side did not get three points at Saints and added his VAR assistant “needs to go to Specsavers”. The Scottish boss was left furious following the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s which saw Declan Rice level following the break, after Romain Perraud’s deflected opener. Moyes felt the Hammers fell foul to two incidents, including the Saints defender’s opening goal. Referee Peter Bankes appeared to obstruct Jarrod Bowen as he looked to intercept a loose ball.
David Moyes said: “The real reason we didn’t get three points is the referee. The referee gets in the way of our ability to defend as the ball comes out, he blocks Jarrod Bowen from getting it. It’s ridiculous, it really is. Wait until you see the angles and then you’ll see how ridiculous it is. The ball would probably be favoured or a bounce ball but you can’t get in the way and stop somebody getting it, allowing to go on and somebody scores.”
However, Moyes was not only left upset by that one decision. He also feels West Ham should have had a penalty for a Perraud pull on midfielder Tomas Soucek in the area.
David Moyes added: “I asked the referee about it but I spoke to them more about the penalty kick. Tomas Soucek had a judo move by the player who marked him. There must be new rules in football where you can grab them right round the waist, hold them and throw them down. The kid throws him right down. It’s not the referee, it’s VAR. Whoever was on VAR today needs to go to Specsavers. But if it because he doesn’t touch it, Bowen would have to go around the referee. Maybe you just have to say the referee got himself in a really bad position. Soucek should clear it better but the referee is right in his line.”
