Should All White Reid have seen red?
Was All Whites captain Winston Reid lucky to escape a red card in his first English Premier League game back for West Ham United?
Just days after Liverpool striker Sadio Mane was sent off for collecting the face of Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson with his studs, Reid drew the ire of Liverpool supporters when he too connected with a player’s face.
Reid’s swinging boot struck Steve Mounie in the face when the pair challenged for the ball in West Ham’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town yesterday.
The Benin international was left clutching his face but referee Kevin Friend decided against issuing a card.
Mane, meanwhile, faces a threematch ban for his gruesome challenge, which left the City shotstopper requiring stitches.
Reid wore the captain’s armband, his first game back from the ankle injury that ruled him out of New Zealand’s World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands.
Having already missed the previous three international windows, Reid was then ruled out of the All Whites’ two World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands, which they won 8-3 on aggregate in his absence.
It was a first loss for Huddersfield - and the first goals the team has conceded - after open- ing their Premier League campaign with two wins and a draw following their promotion from the Championship.
West Ham needed some luck to break the deadlock at London Stadium in the 72nd minute, Obiang’s shot from 25 yards deflecting off the back of Huddersfield defender Mathias Jorgensen and looping in on off the post.
Ayew, on as a second-half substitute, added a second goal in the 77th when he poked home a loose ball from inside the six-yard box from a corner.
West Ham striker Javier Hernandez earlier struck the crossbar with a shot, while Tom Ince smashed a drive against the bar late on for Huddersfield.
The win was the perfect birthday present for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, who had been under pressure after three straight losses.