Robert Snodgrass was disappointed to have a point snatched from West Ham United's grasp in the closing moments of Friday night's game at Sheffield United.
Snodgrass thought he had scored a dramatic injury time equaliser, firing past Dean Henderson at his near post after Declan Rice burst beyond John Egan's challenge and laid off to the Scotsman, only for a VAR check to spot the ball strike Rice's hand in the build-up.
There was little the England international could do to avoid the touch following Egan's header, but the handball law as it stands offered the VAR Chris Kavanagh no choice but to rule the goal out.
Snodgrass felt the Hammers would have merited their point, so was naturally frustrated his intervention ultimately counted for nought.
On the injury time drama...
"It’s very hard for Declan to get out of the way and I don’t know what he can do with his hands.
"It’s a difficult one and then I’ve kept myself onside and finished with my right foot. They’ve chalked an assist off for Seb’s goal as well, and for me as a footballer I try to get goals and assists - I've done that and they’ve taken it away. It's swings and roundabouts, and hopefully it’ll be in our favour in the long term.
"The thing is you bring in VAR to stop everybody talking about decisions, but all we’re talking about is them. It’s disappointing that it’s happened to us, as we’d have got a point against a top side.
"There’s no other way about it, they’ve a good, organised side - they have a great bunch of lads, a great management team and for everything they’re doing this season they deserve to be there."
On making an impact from the bench...
"It’s really difficult when you’re a sub coming on, but you need to stay mentally focused and physically ready for any challenge that comes your way, and today I came on and tried to do my best for the team.
"Nobody likes losing, I certainly don’t like it and I know the boys and the management team don’t like it either. It would have been a great point on the board."
On his disappointment for Lukasz Fabianski suffering an injury...
"It’s really disappointing losing Lukasz. He had that spring back in his step, he was back with two clean sheets in a row and I'm really disappointed for him.
"It’s the nature of the game that sometimes you get injuries and it's how you come back stronger. He’s bounced back and dealt with it well and I wish him all the best with his recovery."
