Di Matteo refuses to criticise keeper for costly error
ROBERTO Di Matteo has refused to blame young goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini for Aston Villa’s late surrender to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.
The goalkeeper’s mistake meant Villa had to settle for a point in a match that they largely dominated, but only had Ross McCormack’s first goal to show for it.
Huddersfield levelled when substitute Michael Hefele closed down Gollini and scored with his first touch.
The goalkeeper should have cleared it out wide but he could only hammer it against the back of the striker and watch it embarrassingly roll into the net.
But Di Matteo was keen to praise the good things that his young goalkeeper had done during the game, with the Italian making several timely interventions during the second-half.
“He wanted to kick it away and it was blocked, said Di Matteo.
“When the keeper makes a mistake it’s normally a goal but he made some great saves as well. He’s obviously disappointed but he’ll have to learn from this.”
The fans will rightly be frustrated by the Italian’s error which prevented them from securing their first back-toback league wins since May 2015.
And with Mark Bunn and Jed Steer, two very capable Championship goalkeepers waiting in the wings, Di Matteo has a big decision to make as to who plays at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Di Matteo has confirmed that, as Joleon Lescott actively seeks to leave the club having been told by the manager last month that he isn’t part of his plans, another Brummie is in a similar position.
Gabby Agbonlahor doesn’t have any takers at present, but the boss also outlined that he isn’t currently part of his thinking.
“Gabby is not part of the group so that is the situation,” said the manager.