Andoni Iraola says lack of VAR cost Bournemouth in Carabao Cup loss at West Ham

Posted Thursday, August 29, 2024 by PA

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was left cursing a second controversial handball decision against his team in the space of four days after the 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat at West Ham.

On Sunday the Cherries had a stoppage-time goal disallowed by VAR against Newcastle despite the ball appearing to go in off the shoulder of Dango Ouattara.

So Iraola could not believe his luck when Jarrod Bowen’s 88th-minute winner appeared to come off the England forward’s elbow.

With no VAR in operation in the early rounds, the goal stood, much to Iraola’s obvious frustration.

“When you think it’s impossible something else happens, OK, but it has happened again,” said the Spaniard.

“It’s even more clear. I don’t know what to say. We are not making these mistakes but we are suffering the consequences, and we are out of the competition because of a mistake.

“I don’t know what we have to do to change something but obviously it’s costing us a lot.

“We haven’t won on Sunday because of VAR and we are out of the cup because there is no VAR.”

Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui claimed he had not seen a replay of the goal.

But a penalty shoot-out was looming after an underwhelming cup tie at the London Stadium until a wayward shot from Mohammed Kudus found its way in off Bowen.

“We are happy to go to the next round, it was our aim,” said Lopetegui. “It was never easy against a good Premier League team. We suffered in moments but to win each match you have to suffer and we have to keep this mentality.”

The controversial goal ended a contest low on quality despite West Ham handing full debuts to almost £100million-worth of summer signings.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville all started for the hosts.

But it was only the impressive Wan-Bissaka, the £15million recruit from Manchester United, who was still on at the end after a distinctly mixed bag of performances, with Germany striker Fullkrug conspicuously quiet.

“I have to see the game again, for them it is not easy, the first match here,” added Lopetegui.

“This rhythm demands a lot, not only for the strikers, defenders too. All of them have to adapt.

“We are going to help them adapt. There are a lot of players that are competing. We need that, step by step, in order to improve.”