West Ham and Fulham managers disagree over impact of Javier Hernandez’s ‘handball goal’

Claudio Ranieri was left bemoaning the lack of VAR in the Premier League after West Ham equalised on their way to a comeback win over Fulham thanks to a Javier Hernandez handball.

The Mexican used his hand to turn the ball in at the far post after Ryan Babel had given Fulham an early lead, a goal that, with referee Lee Mason unsighted, would have been ruled out next season following the introduction of VAR.

Goals from Issa Diop and Michail Antonio sealed the west Londoners’ fate but, while in truth Hernandez’s leveller was far from a defining moment, Ranieri conceded it knocked every last drop of confidence out of his side.

"I hope the VAR next season will be better," Ranieri said. "After the equaliser West Ham increase in confidence and we were scared.

"Did the handball change the game? It’s too easy to say yes, when you score you increase in confidence the draw comes from the handball, there is tension and you have to fight. That’s it and they were dangerous in the set-plays.

"I didn't see the handball live, I watched it on the screen, maybe the players didn’t see. Only Chicharito knew the truth.

"I think now that football is so fast and there are so many players in the box and for the referee it is difficult to watch everything. VAR can be better, in Italy and Champions League it’s there. In England, it’s important for it to help the referee."

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted his side had got away with some luck, but saw enough in the performance to know the three points would have remained in their hands with or without the handball.

"From my position on the bench I really didn't see. Also after seeing the TV, it is a handball but nobody complained from Fulham for very long, they were not sure," Pellegrini said.

"I don't think it was the goal that decided the game, we scored three and their goalkeeper saved four or five more chances for us to continue scoring."

The result leaves Fulham eight points from safety with the midweek trip to relegation rivals Southampton now surely a must-win game.