“Disgusting” Cressie call could have cost us big time
Slaven Bilic described Martin Atkinson’s decision as “very harsh,” former ref Howard Webb said the same on BT Sport and Harry Redknapp called it “utterly disgusting and diabolical which could have cost the Hammers after a great performance.”
What was so galling was that Cressie – superb on his comeback – was given a first yellow for simulation when he was brought down a couple of minutes earlier.
He was clearly fouled inside the penalty area and should have been awarded a spot kick but instead had the card flashed at him.
Then as he chased back at the other end moments later he was adjudged to have brought down Zaha, saw a second yellow after Atkinson held a conversation with his official and received his marching orders.
It was a horrible decision right out of the bottom drawer and one over which we have no right of appeal.
But even that ghastly injustice couldn’t take the shine off a performance which had everything we had been praying for all seaspm – quality football, a great goal, and genuine courage and determination when the going got so tough with ten men.
Our picture shows Lanzini scoring the match winner
COYI