Accrington manager says Dimitri Payet’s ability means free-kicks are as good as penalties

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The West Ham star scored an injury-time free-kick to break Stanley hearts on Wednesday night.

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard, that West Ham earning a free-kick is as good as them being awarded a penalty because of Dimitri Payet’s set-piece ability.

The League Two side looked to be forcing extra-time at the London Stadium in the EFL third-round clash on Wednesday night before half-time substitute Payet stepped up to curl a magnificent effort into the top corner from 25 yards after a foul in the fifth minute of injury time.

That is just the latest in a long line of goals from dead-ball situations for the star, who netted superb efforts for club and country last season.

Many rank him as amongst the best free-kick-takers in world football at present, and the regularity with which he delivers is a big factor in that billing.

Though his latest strike broke Accrington hearts, their manager Coleman hailed the French midfielder’s talent and suggested that Hammers fans cannot be disappointed if they are awarded a free-kick rather than winning a penalty.

Coleman said, via the Standard: “People will throw bouquets at us for our spirit today but we don’t want to be seen as plucky. We came here to win and we matched them for most of the game.

“Unfortunately we’ve gone to sleep in the 96th minute and you give a player of Payet’s quality a free-kick on the edge of the box it’s tantamount to a penalty.

“We talked about putting a man on the line but that makes it difficult for the goalkeeper. You’ve got to applaud the quality. But he earns more in a month than our whole squad earns in a season. Because he can do that. And we can’t.”

Payet’s star has risen meteorically since he joined West Ham last summer, and that strike was his 13th in just his 42nd appearance for the club.

It was his first of the current campaign after his late arrival back at training following France’s run to the Euro 2016 final, and he and Hammers fans will be hoping it kickstarts his season in earnest.