The Hammers are Zoum-ing but Cherries left fuming after VAR rulings

Kurt Zouma (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring the first of the night’s goals (Picture: AP/Ian Walton)

West Ham 2-0 Bournemouth

Bournemouth were on the wrong end of a VAR double-whammy as West Ham moved into the top half of the Premier League table last night in controversial circumstances.

First, the Cherries were punished on the stroke of half-time as VAR Mike Dean ruled Thilo Kehrer’s handball in the build-up to Kurt Zouma’s opening goal was accidental. Then, Jordan Zemura was rather harshly penalised for handball in second-half stoppage-time, allowing Said Benrahma to bag his side’s second from the penalty spot.

Zouma’s headed flick, as he got the last touch to a goalmouth scramble following a corner, broke the deadlock but his central-defensive partner Kehrer had handled.

Dean gave the goal, however. Cherries caretaker-boss Gary O’Neil was booked for his protests at the break.

In the final minute, VAR asked referee David Coote to consult his monitor after Zemura slid to block Vladimir Coufal’s cross.

He awarded a spot-kick and Benrahma converted to move the Hammers up to tenth place. The Cherries are 14th.

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