BALBUENA’S RED AIN’T SO FAB BLASTS MOYES
David Moyes saw West Ham’s topfour hopes dented by a London derby defeat – and branded Fabian Balbuena’s red card “rubbish”.
Timo Werner netted just his second league goal since November to win it for the Blues as the rivals scrap for Champions League spots.
But the Hammers were left fuming by the dismissal of defender Balbuena for a follow- through tackle on Ben Chilwell as they pressed for a late leveller. No
Chelsea players complained about the challenge but ref Chris Kavanagh flashed red after VAR intervened, asking him to watch the clash on the pitchside screen.
West Ham boss Moyes fumed: “I thought it was a rubbish decision.
“I think it’s a decision made by somebody who’s never played the game. I don’t know where Fabian is supposed to plant his foot. I don’t see how it’s a red card.
“He’s kicked through the ball, I don’t think for one minute there’s a bit of malice, that he’s trying to catch him.
“If they do think that then you look at the one on Vladimir Coufal from (Antonio) Rudiger. It was a very similar challenge but they never did anything about it.
“The red card changes the game for the last 10 or 15 minutes. We were hoping to put them under even more pressure.
“But I’m pleased the players got at it and the game didn’t go away from us, as it could have.
“We’ll go again, we’re in a decent position, there’s games to play and hopefully we are in the mix for European football right to the end.
“I’ll keep trying to push to make that the Champions League.”
Chelsea took the lead just before half-time. Werner laid the ball off to Christian Pulisic then raced into
the box to receive Chilwell’s low cross and convert from eight yards.
Match-winner Werner said: “I’m very happy that we won. It’s a big win in the race for the top four.
“It’s the best feeling af ter winning a game to score a goal. It was really important for me and for the whole team. It’s great to be back on the scoresheet.
“Callum [Hudson- Odoi] said to me I’ll score and 30 seconds later Tammy [Abraham] came to me and said I’d score. They told me to point to them when I score. This season it’s not only the confidence, maybe it’s also luck.
“Last year the ball always went in, this year it’s different.”
Boss Thomas Tuchel was pleased with the win ahead of the midweek Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.
He said: “It was an amazing result and a well-deserved win.
“The first half was excellent and we finished well too. Now we can think about Real Madrid.”