Ian Wright slams ‘total refereeing MESS UP’ that led to Aston Villa equaliser in comeback win over West Ham

Ian Wright has slammed the awarding of an Aston Villa corner that led to the hosts scoring the first goal in Friday’s comeback FA Cup win over West Ham.

The all-Premier League affair ended with Wright’s former club being knocked out of the historic competition as Unai Emery‘s Villa came from behind to complete a dramatic turnaround victory.

Graham Potter‘s opening match in charge of the Hammers ended in FA Cup elimination after Lucas Paqueta had initially given the visitors a surprise lead in the Midlands.

The Brazilian opened the scoring in the ninth minute and West lasted until the 71st minute before having their defence unlocked in a moment of controvery.

Amadou Onana reacted fastest to a loose ball in the Hammers box, but the decision to award a corner in the build-up to the goal has been scathed by Wright and supporters.

Replays show an off-balance shot by Onana sail through a crowded box and out of play with both sets of players expecting a goal-kick to be awarded.

Ian Wright slammed the awarding of an Aston Villa corner that led to the hosts scoring the first goa

Amadou Onana later scored from the corner as Villa mounted their comeback against West Ham

However, referee Tim Robinson instead pointing to the corner flag and Onana scoring just moments later from the set-piece that his shot had somehow won.

Wright fumed at the call after the match and blasted the referee for putting West Ham under unnecessary pressure that they eventually buckled under.

‘The refereeing assistant messing up totally with that corner. I can’t believe the referee, he’s standing there,’ Wright vented on ITV Sport.

‘He’s standing right there, it’s gone through a gap of people and he’s not seen that. No one’s near it, how can you get that one wrong? 

‘West Ham were in this. Yes they had to defend a bit more because Villa got on top, they tried, such a shame really,’ added Wright.

The goal ignited Villa’s comeback with Morgan Rogers adding a second just five minutes later to earn a 2-1 win for the home side with the Hammers unable to respond.

Newly-appointed Hammers boss Graham Potter (right) questioned the corner ruling

Potter appeared to agree with Wright’s view of the situation and speaking after the match also questioned whether a corner was the correct decision.

‘Well the start of the game was really good, really positive, I thought we had good organisation, offered a threat, first half was really good from us,’ stated Potter.

‘Second half Aston Villa stepped up and pushed us back a little bit too much, losing Fulkrug and Summerville influenced our attacking part of the game, more pressure rather than big chances. 

‘Not sure if first goal was a corner. It didn’t look it to me but will have to see it again, it’s one of those things. Pushed at the end and had a couple of chances. Disappointed to go out but lots of positives,’ he said.