There are days when it is impossible not to lay into Manchester United’s many failings under Erik ten Hag. On this occasion, though, the true villain of the piece was the cold, interfering hand of the video assistant referee system. It is true that United’s forwards deserve criticism for failing to win this game during a painfully one-sided first half, but even they could not to do anything about the moment when Michael Oliver, watching from Stockley Park, stepped in with the advice that led to West Ham being awarded the penalty that brought Julen Lopetegui a precious and, at times, deeply illogical win.
This was an outcome decided in artificial fashion, technology’s creep bemusing and infuriating Matthijs de Ligt, the defender deemed guilty of felling Danny Ings with the score locked at 1-1 during the closing stages. It had looked little more than a coming together. David Coote, the on-pitch referee, did not think there was enough contact to merit a foul and it was a while before he was being told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
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