West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says officials got major decisions wrong
Saturday 11 February 2017 19:16, UK
Slaven Bilic believes the officials cost West Ham three points after a 2-2 draw with West Brom at London Stadium.
Bilic was sent to the stands after the Baggies netted a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, with the Croatian following his assistant in being banished from the touchline, after Nikola Jurcevic had been dismissed in the first half.
The Hammers were unhappy with their treatment from the officials in several key incidents. Firstly, they felt Chris Brunt fouled Sofiane Feghouli in the build-up to the Baggies opener, before they were incensed to see the referee's assistant flag for offside, ruling out Feghouli's first-half tap-in.
Second-half strikes from Feghouli and Manuel Lanzini turned the match on its head and looked to have won it for the hosts, but they were denied in stoppage-time, with Bilic sent to the stands for throwing a television microphone.
"We are disappointed and frustrated," Bilic told Sky Sports. "It is not easy to turn the game around against a team like this, but we did that.
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"To concede like this [in stoppage-time], especially after everything that has happened in the game with decisions, it is very, very frustrating.
"The big decisions went against us, all of them. It is hard for referees, I know, but in such an important game, when you are on the wrong side of all the decisions, it makes you very, very angry.
"It is nothing personal, but the referee was very, very bad."
Bilic lost his cool as he felt the Baggies should not have been awarded a throw-in as they launched one last attack in search of an equaliser.
Further punishment could be heading Bilic's way, but he insisted that the denial of three points was punishment enough.
"This great performance we should enjoy tonight, and enjoy the break [not in FA Cup next week], but we have a bitter taste in our mouth," he added. "We deserved to win this game.
"It is not for me to make a decision [on whether he faces further punishment], but I have already been punished big time for what happened during the game.
"It was more gesticulating, I don't think I crossed the line."
