Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United diced with death but emerged very much alive thanks to Callum Wilson’s stoppage time winner against Everton – and a stroke of luck for Mateus Fernandes.

Toffees boss David Moyes hit out at a VAR decision which ruled that Fernandes’ handball deep into the second-half should not be punished with a penalty kick.

Mateus Fernandes appeared to slap the ball away from Thierno Barry inside the box. It was, the Video Assistant Referee deemed, merely a ‘grappling motion’ rather than anything too deliberate.

Did Mateus Fernandes get a lucky escape vs Everton?

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It was a nailed on penalty, no doubt about it, but I’ll take any bit of luck we can get

They were both jostling for the ball and he got shoved that’s why his hand went towards the ball ! It was accidental as VAR deemed

While West Ham United rode their luck at one end, fortune favoured their stoppage-time bravery at the other end. Callum Wilson converted a Jarrod Bowen knockdown with 92 on the clock; popping up at almost exactly the same moment in which he pilfered the winner at Tottenham in January.

Nuno Espirito Santo hails ‘fantastic’ Callum Wilson after West Ham United heroics

That was Wilson’s sixth goal in ten Premier League starts since joining on a free transfer. Some will argue that Nuno Espirito Santo should be using him more frequently. Others, though, will point out that Wilson’s ‘supersub’ role is proving an extremely effective tactic.

“We knew it was going to be tough until the end, but it was important that we kept believing, that the boys kept fighting until the last minutes,” Nuno told BBC Sport. “It’s something we have in our character and that’s really important for us.

“It’s going to be [a battle] until the end. Keep fighting, keep believing. A tough [game], but we are on the right path.”

“We have all the squad available. All the players are healthy,” the head coach added when pressed on why Taty Castellanos and the still goalless Pablo Felipe started ahead of Wilson.

“It’s a good headache to have. Callum is giving us huge moments. We are delighted. [Wilson is] fantastic. What can you say?”

Has Tomas Soucek silenced his doubters for good with THAT Everton goal?

Not a bad way to celebrate Prem start number 200…

Mateus Fernandes escaped punishment in Everton flashpoint

Due to where that Fernandes incident took place, Nuno was in the dark like much of the London Stadium when referee Stuart Attwell paused play and consulted with VAR.

By his own admission, though, there were plenty of hearts in West Ham mouths.

“When I looked back and saw all the faces on the bench, everybody looked worried!” Nuno says with a half-chuckle.

“There was the moment that Everton really put us against the ropes. With crosses, they are so good. In the second and third phase, you cannot get out, which caused us some problems.”