VAR in the dock as Man.united down Villa
Fith-placed Man.united, who defeated Aston Villa 3-0, move to within one point of fourthplaced Leicester in the race to qualify for the Champions League
Manchester United were given a controversial helping hand by VAR in their 3-0 win at Aston Villa, while Totenham suffered fresh frustration at the hands of the review system in their 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Thursday.
United were far too strong for lowly Villa, but their opening goal came from a dubious penalty that let the hosts fuming.
In the 27th minute, United midfielder Bruno Fernandes spun into Ezri Konsa before tumbling in the area despite litle evidence of a foul by the Villa defender.
The penalty stood ater a VAR review and Fernandes sloted home his eighth goal since joining from Sporting Lisbon in January.
“It all changed on the penalty decision. Fernandes’ first touch is on the ball, his second touch is on Konsa’s shin,” Villa manager Dean Smith said.
“I can understand (referee) Jon (Moss) geting it wrong but if that goes to VAR I don’t know what they are looking at. It’s a disgraceful decision.”
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer disagreed: “I think it’s a penalty. The boy sticks out his leg, Fernandes does a fantastic ‘Zidane turn’ and he lands on him.”
United doubled their lead in first half stoppagetime when 18-year-old Mason Greenwood scored his fourth goal in three games with a fierce finish.
Paul Pogba got the third in the 58th minute, the France midfielder bagging his first goal of an injury-hit season with a low curler from 18 yards.
Fith placed United move to within one point of fourth placed Leicester in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
United, unbeaten in their last 17 games in all competitions, are the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive matches by a margin of three or more goals.
Second botom Villa are four points from safety and haven’t won in six games since the restart.
There was more VAR controversy at Dean Court, with Totenham let in danger of missing out on European competition for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Jose Mourinho’s side were off-key for long periods, but could feel hard done by ater Josh King’s push on Harry Kane in the penalty area went unpushed despite a VAR review in the first half.
Just a week ater Totenham were the victims of a harsh VAR decision in their loss at Sheffield United, Mourinho felt they were the victims of another bad mistake by the replay official.
“The same referee who did the VAR decision against Sheffield United, Michael Oliver. Opinions mater, It’s not only mine. Everybody knows that’s a penalty and when I say everybody, I mean everybody,” Mourinho said.
“Normally at minute five we would be winning 1-0 against a team in trouble, I think the game would be completely different.
“The game had the most important moment. You know when, you know who. Like Sheffield, the man of the match was not one of the players.”
Just a year ater reaching the Champions League final, Totenham sit in ninth place in the Premier League, 10 points off the top four and far from certain to make next season’s Europa League.
Third bo tom bournemouth thought they had won it in stoppage-time, but Callum Wilson’s overhead kick clearly hit King’s hand on its way past Hugo Lloris and their celebrations were curtailed by VAR.
Eddie Howe’s men, without a win in nine matches, are three points from safety with just four games let to avoid relegation.
At Goodison Park, Southampton held Everton to a 1-1 draw as Danny Ings boosted his bid for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
Southampton’s James Ward-prowse won a penalty in the 28th minute when he was tripped by Andre Gomes, but the midfielder blazed his spot-kick against the crossbar.