Villans make winning start
… as Blades’ boss fumes over red card, penalty decision
ASTON VILLA kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Sheffield United yesterday as Ezri Konsa bagged the winner after Emiliano Martinez saved a penalty for the hosts. United were a man down early on after captain John Egan was sent off for a foul on Ollie Watkins.
Villa keeper Martinez saved John Lundstram’s first half penalty in his first appearance following his £17 million (RM92m) move from Arsenal last week.
Konsa sealed the points in the second half with a looping header, a well-earned reward for a committed display after he played on despite appearing to injure himself sprinting out for the second half.
It was the perfect start for Dean Smith’s side, who beat Burton Albion in the League Cup second round last week, as they look to avoid a repeat of last season’s relegation battle.
“A very good start, to get three points and a clean sheet you can’t ask for more,” Smith told BBC Sport.
“I thought we started the game the better and the game changes with the sending-off.
“We’ve worked on Tyrone Mings getting across the near post, flicking it on and Ezri Konsa arriving. It’s difficult when they go in with two banks of four.
“We probably should have scored more. Since lockdown, defensively I think we’ve been more aggressive.”
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder questioned referee Graham Scott’s decisions to send off Egan and not show a red a card to Villa’s Matt Targett for conceding a penalty with the score at 0-0.
A lengthy VAR review showed Targett had clipped Chris Basham in the box, but the “double jeopardy” rule – which means a player cannot be sent off when conceding a penalty if they were making an attempt to win the ball – saw the Villa leftback only pick up a booking.
Egan, however, was dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity for tussling with Ollie Watkins, who looked to be in on goal in the 12th minute.
“Why didn’t the referee go over to the monitor? I wouldn’t come out here and mug myself off – if I thought it was a clear sending-off I’d say so,” Wilder told Sky Sports.
“The penalty – Egan gets sent off 35 yards from goal, Matt (Targett) makes no effort to win the ball.
“The double jeopardy is only when the opposition player makes a challenge for the ball, the ball is four yards away, so (he can’t reach it) unless he’s got spider legs he can wrap around – and he hasn’t because I’ve watched it.” – AFP/Agencies