PEEKY BLUNDER Smith sick at Jack ‘robbery’
Jack Grealish was adjudged to have dived just outside the area – but the ball fell to sub Henri Lansbury who hammered home what he believed was the equaliser.
But referee Kevin Friend had blown up, booked Grealish and ruled out the goal... with uncertainty over whether the boffins at Stockley Park had even got involved.
The VAR- cical ending left Grealish and Co incensed and police got their batons out in front of fans in the away end as tempers flared there as well.
Jordan Ayew’s 73rd-minute strike ultimately gave Palace a first home win of the season after Villa’s Trezeguet had been red-carded.
But Friend’s decision was the hot topic with Villa boss Dean Smith (right) fuming: “I think everyone else’s view was ‘good goal’. No one could understand why it wasn’t given.
“I spoke in the week about VAR and subjective decisions, but that system is meant to right wrongs.
“Jack got a nudge in the back from Wilfried Zaha. As he offloads it, Gary Cahill comes into the tackle as well.
“Simulation? No chance. nce. Someone just put it to me that Jack’s reputation may precede cede him.
“Well, he was the most-fouled ouled player in the Championship p last season for a reason.
“I haven’t seen the referee e but he will probably give some waffle. It was a poor decision. n. I believe any goal that is scored goes to VAR. I don’t know whether it did or not. If you’re Jack Grealish, I’d be raging. He’s having his integrity questioned.
“He’s made a great run, laid it off for Henri to score. Jack wasn’t even looking for a foul.”
It is questionable whether Villa deserved anything anyway.
They had struggled to create chances with Palace well on top for much of the match.
But the Eagles’ struggles in front of goal this season continued, although in fairness Tom Heaton had a stormer with th fine saves to deny Luka Milivojevic twice and Cheikhou Kouyate.
Palace enjoyed a major helping hand when Trezeguet was given a second yellow for a foul on Zaha, a decision that Smith had no complaints about.
Roy Hodgson was poised to bring on former Villa star Christian Benteke for Ayew when Jeff Schlupp set up the £2.5million man. And Ayew duly did the business as he took advantage of a poor attempt to tackle by new England prospect Tyrone Mings to score.
But Palace never looked convincing at any stage in attack and in the end benefited from the late drama.
Hodgson said: “Of course there was controversy.
“I’m very dissatisfied as it was a good performance and all of sudden it is reduced to, ‘ Was the final decision correct?’