Declan Rice told Monday Night Football during his post-match interview that Angelo Ogbonna was ‘certain’ he was fouled by Ollie Watkins before his stoppage-time equaliser was ruled out by VAR last night.
West Ham’s defensive rock admitted that he ‘didn’t really see a foul’ on his centre-back, as the argument could be made that it was the Aston Villa striker who should have been awarded a penalty because Ogbonna had his arms wrapped around him.
In the end, it was West Ham who walked away with all three points, as Villa were the latest team to express their annoyance towards VAR.
Rice shared his thoughts on what was happening when the Watkins call was being made and suggested that he disagreed with Ogbonna’s claim.
“Matty Targett’s whipped in a great cross and luckily enough Ollie Watkins is offside,” said Rice. “It’s small margins.
“Angelo was certain it was a foul. I didn’t really see a foul, so to get the offside and so late on. I thought it was an equaliser, so to come away with the three points. I think we have to be happy.
“All the players were having a discussion on the pitch that the longer it takes, it seems at though the decision is always going to go the other way and it’s going to be overruled.”
In July, Villa were leaving the London Stadium having just escaped relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the season.
There were party-like scenes in the away dressing room after the match, but it would have been a contrasting change last night.
Dean Smith’s men were outstanding from an attacking sense throughout the match and two lapses of concentration were punished by a West Ham team now sitting in fifth place.
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