‘This is why’: Newcastle star thinks he’s spotted why Moyes keeps putting £7m West Ham player on the bench

Wed 9 November 2022 12:45, UK

West Ham United have had a shaky start to the season after qualifying for Europe in back-to-back campaigns.

They suffered a heart-breaking last-minute defeat against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

The Hammers went ahead in the first-half through a powerful strike from Said Benrahma.

Wilfried Zaha then got the better of West Ham’s defence to equalise before the break after an error from Thilo Kehrer.

The big talking point of the game was a penalty given for a foul on Antonio.

He felt contact from Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, went down, and referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot.

However, after a VAR check, he reversed his decision.

Things went from bad to worse, when Michael Olise scored a last-minute winner, with the Hammers now just a point above the relegation zone.

Antonio shared his thoughts on West Ham’s penalty shout, and Wilson joked that it’s why Moyes keeps putting him on the bench.

Wilson on Antonio being on West Ham’s bench

Speaking to Newcastle forward Callum Wilson, Antonio explained that he thought it would have been a ‘’ penalty.

“I’m an honest person. It was soft! It was extremely soft,”

“But end of the day, part of the game is that if there is contact there could be a chance! There was contact, so I went down.

“I put the ball through his legs, he got a bit of a touch and he held me back slightly, I was like ‘oh yeah, there’s contact, I’m going down’.

Wilson then couldn’t resist having a dig at Antonio, saying it’s why he’s always on the bench.

“This is why Moyes has put him on the bench. (Gianluca) Scamacca wouldn’t have gone down like that!”

West Ham’s overturned penalty is the latest in a long list of controversial VAR decision involving the Hammers.

last month when they dropped another two points.

However, they did benefit against Fulham after two suspect handball incidents.

The Italian could have been sent off that day, but is showing glimpses of the potential that convinced West Ham to sign him this summer.