Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat to West Ham as a late penalty decision added to Ten Hag’s frustrations, but poor finishing remains a key issue
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag voiced his anger over a contentious penalty decision in United’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham, describing the call as “unfair and unjust.” The decision, awarded in the dying minutes, resulted in a Jarrod Bowen penalty that sealed West Ham’s win at the London Stadium, leaving United with their fourth Premier League loss of the season.
Ten Hag’s frustrations stemmed from referee David Coote’s late review of Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings. The on-field referee initially waved off penalty appeals, but after a video assistant referee (VAR) check, he was sent to the pitchside monitor and ultimately awarded the penalty. Ten Hag and United’s players protested, pointing out a handball by Ings in the buildup, but Coote dismissed the objections after a lengthy pause.
United had themselves to blame for not putting the game to bed earlier. Their dominance in the first half was marked by a flurry of missed chances, with several efforts either going wide or being saved, leaving West Ham with a foothold in the game. Despite taking the lead, United’s inability to finish proved costly as West Ham equalised and eventually clinched the win with Bowen’s penalty.
Reflecting on the decision, Ten Hag said, “Before the season, we were told VAR would only interfere in clear and obvious mistakes. This was definitely not a clear error from the on-field referee.” He added that this was the third time he felt an “injustice” had impacted United’s results this season, which has left them 14th in the league after just three wins from nine games.
Following the match, the Premier League issued a statement on its official X account, clarifying the decision. “The referee did not initially award a penalty for De Ligt’s challenge on Ings,” the statement read. “However, VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee then overturned his decision and awarded a penalty.”
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui commented briefly on the incident, saying, “The players and referee both saw it as a penalty, so I believe it’s the correct decision.” He focused instead on his team’s resilience after United’s goal, praising West Ham’s ability to maintain momentum and secure the win.
The result lifts West Ham to 13th in the table, a single point above United. As for United, Ten Hag’s frustrations are likely to intensify calls for a more clinical edge in front of goal. While controversial officiating decisions have affected their results, the team’s missed chances are becoming a recurring theme. United will need to address both their finishing and defensive discipline as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures in a season already littered with challenges.
