BENITEZ FURY OVER WINNER
RAFA BENITEZ called for more protection for goalkeepers in the six-yard box after his side’s first home defeat of the season.
West Ham leapfrogged Everton in the table after Angelo Ogbonna’s second-half header from a Jarrod Bowen corner.
But Toffees boss Benitez was not happy with the awarding of the set-piece as he felt Michail Antonio had fouled Jordan Pickford as they challenged for the ball.
He said: “I have a problem because I am from Spain and normally in Europe the six-yard box is to protect the keeper.
“When you have a player blocking the keeper in the six-yard area it is a free-kick – and then you can argue whether there is a corner or not.
“You have to protect him.
“I spoke to the fourth official but they have their own idea and I will not change that after so many years.
“Why do you have the six-yard box? It is there for the keeper.
“The keeper sometimes goes for the ball and you cannot see what is coming from one side, which is why you have the six-yard box and not just for goal kicks.”
Hammers boss David Moyes insists he didn’t see the incident back but is happy with how games are being officiated this season under the updated rules which allow more contact.
He said: “I have definitely not seen it again.
“I genuinely don’t know the answer but I think there is a bit more contact in the game, we are enjoying it more and the game is a better watch than it was over the last two seasons.
“Overall, the referees are doing a much better job than they have been doing over the last couple of seasons.”
The win moves West Ham up into the top six as they look set to challenge for European places again this season.
Moyes added: “I want the team to challenge, I want the team to play wherever we go.
“I think we have a good team, I think we have been playing well, we have probably not been doing enough in the final third. We want to do as well as we can.”
The winner came in the 74th minute. A hacked clearance from Ben Godfrey spun into the air which led to an aerial challenge between Pickford and Antonio.
The ball dropped out behind the goal and the officials gave a corner, much to the anger of Pickford who had not dominated the challenge but felt Antonio got the last touch.
He was further incensed when Ogbonna rose to head home Bowen’s corner.