Phil Thompson claimed that Luka Milivojevic should have seen red during West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and boldly added that if a Hammers player had done the same then they would have definitely received their marching orders.
The Sky Sports pundit stated that he thought the 27-year-old midfielder should have got his second yellow card of the match for a foul of Mark Noble in order to see his side reduced to 10-men.
Thompson claimed that Milivojevic got away with it due to referee Craig Pawson allowing the game to go on rather than stopping to book him.
“Milivojevi? should have had a second yellow but Craig Pawson doesn’t give it, he fouls Mark Noble on the halfway line and the games goes on, he allowed it to go on and I feel if that was the away team then it would have been a second yellow, he’s got away with it,” said Thompson on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (February 9th, 17:42).
OPINION
West Ham fans will no doubt totally agree with Thompson on the incident involving Milivojevic and Noble as the West Ham captain was clearly brought down. It seemed an oversight on the referee’s behalf not to stop the game and reduced Crystal Palace to 10 men. While it’s easy to feel aggrieved by a decision going against their club, based on how many West Ham players seemed to lose their way in the second half, even against 10 men a win may not have followed. However Milivojevic should definitely feel lucky that he didn’t get an early bath. This is sort of decision seem to have a way of coming back around so maybe in the coming weeks a team will feel annoyed that West Ham don’t get player sent off. While picking only point against Crystal Palace is disappointing for the Hammers after their immense performance against Liverpool, it’s not the worst result in the world as Crystal Palace are underrated.