West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko was completely unlucky.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, the Ukrainian’s flashes were extinguished within minutes for the Hammers U23s.

Making a Premier League Cup appearance against Swansea youngsters, Yarmolenko scored the eventual first-half winner but didn’t even bother to celebrate.

His lack of enthusiasm was then justified at the start of the second 45 when the most innocuous of nudges ended in a bizarre red card.

Supported by Swansea’s Ben Erickson, Yarmolenko used his arms to hold off the defender from a throw-in, but barely made contact with his opponent.

The referee had no doubts about what looked like a very dodgy sending off, with Yarmolenko only able to laugh as he walked off the pitch shaking his head.

Former West Ham defender Kenny Brown summed up the mood perfectly, saying: “It’s disappointing, the referee couldn’t wait to get his card out.”

Yarmolenko may take some comfort in the fact that his header won the game, but that will do little to distract from a West Ham career that is very clearly coming to an end.

The winger has started just eight games in all competitions this term, scoring once in 21 appearances.

Yarmolenko’s time at the London Stadium is set to come to an end when his contract expires this summer, and he’s sure to be hoping for one last hurray with the first team to avoid retiring on the weirdest of lows.