Liam Keen analysis: It’s clear and obvious – that Wolves decision was beyond a joke

Some supporters were attempting to infiltrate the press box to ask journalists for their opinions, or to demand they question the powers that be, while others were gathering in the stand near the tunnel to express their frustration at referee Tony Harrington and his team.

It is, perhaps, the most angry Molineux has been for some time and the hard-working fans that pay good money to watch Wolves have every right to be upset.

In the 99th minute, Max Kilman broke free in the box from four or five yards and headed home Joao Gomes’s corner to rescue a point.

It was a simple, but effective goal that would have earned Wolves a fair point on the balance of the 90 minutes.

The West Ham players, including Lukasz Fabianski, did not appeal the goal and Molineux was jubilant.

Moments later, that joy turned into disbelief when VAR began checking the goal and the game was halted.

Harrington was then instructed to view the pitch side monitor, with Wolves’ bench furious, and the goal was disallowed for offside as Tawanda Chirewa was allegedly impeding the goalkeeper.

However, he was not stopping Fabianski from moving and the goalkeeper could see the ball, meaning on the face of it there is no logical reason for the goal to be chalked off.

To go from the right decision being made in real time to the wrong decision being made after several minutes of discussion, is inexplicable.

Wolves have been on the wrong end of several big VAR errors this season and will feel aggrieved again at another farcical decision.

Decisions like these come from people who do not understand elite football. They are undermining the integrity of the game.

Wolves’ goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler tweeted after the game, saying: “Another horrific decision! Not just the decision but the arrogance after it is shocking!”

The latter part of that statement is the most interesting, as the relationship between fans and clubs with the officials is at an all-time low.

It is certainly not an easy job and occasionally they are unfairly targeted, but moments like this tarnish their reputation.

The solution to improving referees, in the long term, is to encourage people to take it up at a grassroots level.

But the relationship with officials is now so toxic that it must be an unappealing job to anyone.

It has reached this low point due to so many high-profile errors and a lack of accountability. In any other profession, big mistakes are punished, yet referees are protected by a system that is not putting football first.

To put it simply, VAR is killing football. Wolves fans regularly chant ‘boring’ every time a VAR check takes place, regardless of whether it will go in their favour or not.

Fans of other clubs, who have also been harshly treated by VAR, also hate it.

The governing bodies have to raise the standards soon.

Putting referees to one side, Wolves also have themselves to blame for a poor second-half performance.

With a makeshift front three and the odds against them, Wolves were brilliant in the opening 45.

Aside from one Nelson Semedo error that should have resulted in a Hammers goal, Wolves completely dominated the game and looked after possession really well.

Pablo Sarabia dispatched a penalty and they took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break.

West Ham made some attacking changes for the second half and as they upped the intensity, Wolves wilted.

They fell deeper into their shape, sat back and invited pressure.

The errors leading up to the West Ham penalty were laughable and the winning goal from James Ward-Prowse was freakish, although Jose Sa could also have commanded his area better.

Wolves had gone from three points to no points due to two very avoidable goals that will frustrate the team.

The shining light, as he has been the case in recent weeks, was Rayan Ait-Nouri.

This time playing on the right wing, he left Molineux is awe with his quick feet and he was a constant threat.

Wolves took a precaution by taking him off when they did, but if he is injured, it will be another big blow in a string of unlucky injuries.

With Nottingham Forest next up, Wolves are in must-win territory if they want to keep their slim European chances alive.

They must now avoid letting the season fizzle out.