What West Ham United fans relentlessly chanted perfectly summed up scenes that unfolded in the draw with Newcastle United.
If there was one thing that was guaranteed when West Ham welcomed Newcastle United to the London Stadium it was entertainment.
Champions of Europe West Ham were taking on Newcastle’s European heroes and – for the most part – a pulsating game ensued.
The Hammers started the game in the same way they did the 2-1 midweek win at Freiburg.
And they were rewarded when Tomas Soucek gave them a deserved lead.
Officials get in the way of pulsating game
But as both West Ham and the Magpies wrestled for control of the game there was only one man getting in the way.
It is too easy to have a go at match officials at the moment.
But referee Peter Bankes put in one of the most abysmal displays of officiating you will see anywhere – let alone the best league in the world.
He repeatedly failed to book Newcastle players for blatant fouls. He yellow carded Emerson for dissent but failed to do the same thing when Miguel Almiron gave him back chat.
Bankes then completely bottled sending off Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes – who was already on a yellow – for a clear foul which stopped a West Ham attack.
What West Ham fans relentlessly chanted perfectly summed up scenes that unfolded in draw with Newcastle
Into the second half and Bankes somehow got worse. He gave a foul against Lucas Paqueta when it was he who had been hauled to the deck with the Hammers on the break again.
What should have been a chance at a possible two-on-one turned into a set-piece from which Eddie Howe’s side equalised.
With West Ham’s players still visibly bamboozled by the horrendous decision, Newcastle turned the game on its head as Alexander Isak completed a quick-fire brace to make it 2-1.
The Hammers rallied, though, and managed to equalise a minute before the end when the brilliant Mohammed Kudus smashed home from the edge of the box.
It was yet another assist for Vladimir Coufal – his fourth in four Premier League games.
‘You’re not fit to referee’ Hammers fans told Bankes
And it was the minimum the Hammers deserved as they went agonisingly close to a winner in stoppage time.
What West Ham fans relentlessly chanted perfectly summed up scenes that unfolded in the draw with Newcastle.
The London Stadium erupted in chants of ‘You’re not fit to referee’ aimed at Bankes for his performance.
The Hammers faithful sustained the chant for several minutes as the action played out – venting their fury at the official. Chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ also rang out around the ground.
This was a game West Ham could so easily have won. But supporters came away feeling their team had been up against 12 men for the most part.
Thankfully West Ham’s fans acted as their 12th man to roar the team on in salvaging a point – the very, very least they deserved.
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