West Ham manager David Moyes‘ public comments on the late controversy in his team’s win at Wolves were at odds with what opposite number Gary O’Neil claims the Hammers boss told him privately.

The Hammers came from behind to win at Molineux, with both teams seeing goals ruled out. However, while there were few complaints about the foul which cut short the celebrations of Hammers defender Emerson, it was a different story when it came to Max Kilman’s header for the hosts.

Both teams had converted penalties before James Ward-Prowse put West Ham in front direct from a corner. Kilman thought he’d equalised in the ninth added minute, only for a VAR check to deem Wolves substitute Tawanda Chirewa offside and interfering with visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Immediately after the game, O’Neil claimed both Moyes and Fabianski agreed with him that the goal should have been allowed to stand. Later, however, Moyes’ comments appeared to go against this version of events.

“My view, David Moyes ‘ view, Lukasz Fabianski’s view is that it’s a scandalous, terrible decision, I can’t understand it at all,” O’Neil said. “Can’t think of an explanation to be honest, one of the worst decisions I’ve ever witnessed.”

While Moyes publicly sympathised with O’Neil, though, his explanation went against that of the former Hammers midfielder. “I think it was probably the right decision but I can understand how Gary O’Neil would see as it as a very harsh call – but I thought the penalty kick in the first half was a really harsh call for us,” Moyes said.

The first-half penalty was awarded after Emerson was adjudged to have fouled Rayan Ait-Nouri. Lucas Paqueta levelled from the spot after a Kilman handball, though, before Ward-Prowse scored what ended up being the winner.

Should Max Kilman’s goal have stood? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section

It wasn’t the first time Wolves have found themselves on the wrong end of a contentious decision this season. The 40-year-old claimed to have received an apology from PGMOL after his side were denied a late penalty against Manchester United in August, and said ref Michael Salisbury admitted to making the wrong call in a November loss at Fulham.

“We discussed a lot of decisions,” O’Neil told Sky Sports. “[Fulham’s Carlos] Vinicius should have been sent off for head-butting Max [Kilman]. Tim Ream should have been sent off for a second bookable offence for the penalty. They are my opinion.

“Nelson [Semedo] touched the ball for the first penalty and doesn’t touch Tom Cairney. The referee said he thinks he got it wrong and should have been sent to the monitor.”

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