Mike Dean and Lee Mason seize headlines as Tomas Soucek is shipped off towards Fulham after weird VAR determination

Mike Dean made headlines but once more after sending off Tomas Soucek within the third minute of added time throughout West Ham United’s dour draw with Fulham.

The Hammers held on for a 0-Zero draw, however the drama centred solely on Dean and VAR official Lee Mason after sending Soucek off for an obvious elbow on Aleksandr Mitrovic.

In response to Sky Sports activities, Mason apparently instructed Dean to go over to the monitor on the facet of the pitch after ‘figuring out a clenched fist’.

Nevertheless, Mitrovic even appeared to plead Soucek’s case whereas Dean investigated, earlier than ultimately sending the Czech Republic worldwide off.

The drama mustn’t distract from what was an impressed efficiency by Fulham, whose lack of leading edge as soon as once more proved to be their downfall.

Scott Parker’s facet performed like they had been those gunning for Europe, with the Hammers missing the fluency going ahead which impressed them to victory towards Aston Villa on Wednesday night time.

Nevertheless, simply days after Mike Dean made the headlines for sending off Jan Bednarek towards Manchester United, the 52-year-old as soon as once more is below scrutiny.

Fulham began brightly and obtained into the West Ham field with each Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek having pictures blocked by the visiting defenders contained in the opening 10 minutes.

Nevertheless it was West Ham who had the primary important likelihood, when Jarrod Bowen was inches away from assembly a well-hit cross from Aaron Cresswell.

West Ham had been virtually capable of flip their aerial menace goalwards, with Soucek rising highest to satisfy a nook solely to see his header fly over the bar.

Ademola Lookman had a chance for Fulham after discovering a yard of area simply exterior the field, however he pulled his low shot simply huge of the objective.

Fulham needed to wait till simply earlier than half-time for his or her first try on track, however Ivan Cavaleiro’s header lacked energy and Lukasz Fabianski was capable of collect simply.

At the beginning of the second half, Fulham captain Joachim Andersen discovered Decordova-Reid however his volley went over the bar, with Loftus-Cheek additionally placing a chipped shot huge simply moments later.

Within the 63rd minute West Ham hit the body of the objective, Declan Rice put a ball into the world and Vladimir Coufal made good contact, however his header rebounded out off the crossbar above Alphonse Areola’s objective.

Moments after approaching from the bench, Aleksandar Mitrovic virtually put the house facet forward, when the ball fell for him on the fringe of the field however his low drive went simply huge of the objective.

West Ham had been lowered to 10 males within the remaining moments of added time when Soucek was proven the crimson card and look set to be with out the midfielder as they proceed their push for a European place.