Former Arsenal star Perry Groves believes Konstantinos Mavropanos committed a “cardinal sin” with his error for West Ham against Fulham.
In the opening ten minutes in east London, Hammers defender Mavropanos attempted to bring down and control a long ball from Alex Iwobi.
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However, the centre-back faked his first touch and it fell into the path of Andreas Pereira who then quickly shot for Fulham.
Mavropanos had an attacking player on his back, but chose to pass the ball across goal, which then led to his team conceding.
Speaking during the Sunday session on talkSPORT, former Arsenal man Groves was quick to criticize the Greek’s defending.
“I’m old school, should your central defender try to bring the ball down into his own penalty area?
“The ball comes from Iwobi on the right side, comes to Mavropanos, put your laces through it, take a firm side foot, take it out of the penalty area.
“He doesn’t even realize Pereira is behind him, so as soon as he took a touch he went back over the goal. Another cardinal sin, you don’t put the ball back over your own goal. “
He then added: “It’s shocking to defend against Mavropanos.”
West Ham could have taken the lead themselves in the opening moments, but Michail Antonio shot from inside the area.
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The Hammers are looking to respond to their 2-0 Europa League quarter-final defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday evening.
However, Pereira scored his second of the match midway through the second half when he tapped in Iwobi’s low ball.
European qualification is still in sight for David Moyes’ side, but their current eighth place leaves them with work to do.
