FIVE refereeing decisions that have cost West Ham this season

Despite Premier League safety and still a glimmer of a chance of a top eight finish this year, many West Ham fans are asking the question – ‘if only?’

However, this is not because of a player mistake on the pitch, simply because most the Hammers players have performed exceptionally well in claret and blue.

Some of the refereeing decisions that West Ham have been on the wrong end of have cost the east Londoners points in what has been arguably the worst season in Premier League history in terms of the performances of some of the men in black.

With all of the technology, assistant referees and linesmen available, the referees in England have been nothing short of diabolical.

Here a just FIVE of those decisions from the ref’s that have angered manager Sam Allardyce massively…

Click on Phil Dowd to reveal

Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United (27/09/2014)

Referee – Lee Mason

West Ham coming back from 2-0 down at Old Trafford would be unthinkable. However, that dream could have so easily been a reality had it not been for Lee Mason listening to the linesman.

After Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie put the Red Devils ahead early in the first half, many thought they were about to see the beginning of a resurgent United side that were in transition.

Rooney then surprisingly got himself sent off and many witnessed one of the most one sided second half’s they had seen after Diafra Sakho put the Hammers back in the game.

Louis Van Gaal’s men were on the end of an onslaught, and when Kevin Nolan tapped in from close range after coming back from a six week injury lay off, West Ham thought they had rescued a point.

But the linesman chalked the goal off for offside when, quite clearly, the former Newcastle United man was level with Man United’s back four.

Everton 2-1 West Ham United (22/11/2014)

Referee – Mark Clattenburg

When West Ham discovered that the likes of Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Cheikhou Kouyate and Alex Song came back from the international break with injuries, many didn’t give the Hammers hope of coming away from anything against Everton at Goodison Park.

However, the Upton Park outfit put a good shift in and created plenty of chances. Nevertheless, the Hamers fell behind thanks to the man who can’t stop scoring against West Ham, Romelu Lukaku.

But looking back on the replay of the Belgian targetman’s finish, Lukaku was quite clearly two yards offside, yet the goal stood.

It could have been a vital point for West ham.

Sunderland 1-1 West Ham United (13/12/2014)

Referee – Phil Dowd

Against a side struggling at the wrong end of the table, and a near full strength starting XI, West Ham should have put the Black Cats to bed.

This was not the case and the hosts to the lead at the Stadium of Light thanks to a Jordi Gomez penalty.

However, giving Sunderland the spot kick in the first place was an absolute disgrace, with Adam Johnson taking a tumble untouched.

From an English player, that is embarrassing but the decision to be given is even more embarrassing.

Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 West Ham United (22/02/2015)

Referee – Jonathan Moss

After Chiekhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho scored in each half and were deservedly in front, the very loud Hammers fans were making all the noise inside White Hart Lane, with chants of ‘Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happening again’ ringing around North London.

Left back Danny Rose then got one back for Spurs with his scuffed volley from just outside the area, before the prolific Harry Kane softly fell under the challenge of Alex Song in the dying seconds.

Adrian then saved Kane’s penalty, before the Tottenham frontman dispatched the rebound after the scheduled amount of added time.

A couple of bad decisions there from Jonathan Moss?

West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea (04/03/2015)

Referee – Andre Marriner

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has never tasted defeat as a manager against West Ham. However, earlier this month this should have changed had it not been from the terrible performance of referee Andre Marriner.

Eden Hazard’s header from inside the area in the opening moments of the match was definitely offside, and as the Hammers looked for that all important equaliser, Marriner scuppered their chances.

The one key moment that defined Marriner’s performance was not sending Blues captain John Terry off after blocking Cheikhou Kouyate’s run that would have left him a goal scoring opportunity.