Interviewed after the game, a very relieved Nuno Espírito Santo pronounced himself ‘really really really’ pleased that his second eleven side had spared his blushes – thanks to his own substitute Crysencio Summerville’s extra time goal that sent the Hammers through to the fifth round.
And it is clear there’s no lingering anger with his young midfielder over his challenge that was – eventually – adjudged to be worthy of a red card that led to the Hammers finishing the game with ten men. When asked about Freddie Potts’ challenge, Nuno, with his usual tact and diplomacy, answered:
“I didn’t see the incident but what I can share with you – Freddie’s not a violent player, not at all, it’s not the way he plays football. He’s very fair. He’s aggressive, because he has to be, but he’s not violent at all.”
And commenting about the rare ‘benefit’ of completing a match without VAR, Nuno made a frank admission that, had the technology been available, there might well have been a very different outcome. When asked, Nuno admitted that his side would almost certainly have been punished in the first half incident which led to Burton fans and players appealing in vain to referee Lewis Smith:
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‘Yeah for sure’ , Nuno answered with a cheeky smile when asked whether VAR would have intervened and most likely awarded a penalty against Dinos Mavropanos for his clumsy first half barge.
Admitting also that the closing moments of the cup tie were quite chaotic enough without VAR’s added interventions: “Maybe in this kind of game, with the ball bouncing all around the ‘box, you will have a lot of stoppage time”.
Satisfied with a win, in the draw for the next round and escaping without player injuries. Not a bad weekend for Nuno.
Not quite so good for Freddie Potts.