QPR cock-ups remind West Ham fans of just what football has lost

The best and worst of football without VAR was on display last night in something of a throwback to the good old days when the officials in West Ham's draw with QPR were barracked mercilessly for poor decisions. At least it got the crowd involved in the 'soul-less bowl' with a couple of pretty familiar chants which are best left to the imagination.

Is the game better without the endless interventions of a video referee? Granted, QPR's first goal would have been overturned thanks to Soucek's excellent recovery tackle somehow producing a penalty.

However, Jarrod Bowen's 'robust' tackle that won the ball back and started the move from which the Hammers captain equalised wouldalsohave resulted in five minutes of forensic analysis, as is the Video Ref's habit. Knowing how the VAR team seeks any reason to intervene, more than likely that goal would have been chalked off too.

As would the second half penalty awarded to the Irons following Pablo's 'expansive' fall to the ground. VAR hardly ever made things better - as well we remember At least the errors evened themselves out last night, without any claims of officialdom seeking to manipulate or interfere with the outcome - as when Callum Wilson's late goal was chalked off by VAR in the now infamous encounter with Arsenal last season.

Love it, like it or loathe it, playing with honest and occasionally inept mistakes still takes football back towards a more spontaneous, engaging spectacle than the endless, joyless examination by video that Premier League games have become. And chanting'VAR's a ******'doesn't provide the same visceral pleasure in any case.