More VAR drama in Spurs win over Villa
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith says a “farcical VAR decision” contributed to Tottenham’s last-gasp 3-2 Premier League win at Villa Park yesterday.
Spurs were awarded a penalty by VAR when the score was 1-1, with Son Heung-min scoring the rebound.
The South Korean forward later scored a stoppage-time winner, taking Jose Mourinho’s side up to fifth in the table, a point behind fourthplaced Chelsea.
Smith was heavily critical of VAR’s intervention. “I don’t get it,” he said.
“There’s 42,000 people in the stadium, he [referee Martin Atkinson] gives a goal-kick and everyone believes it’s a goal-kick.
“It was a farcical VAR decision. The criteria is clear and obvious. It’s not clear and obvious. Martin Atkinson stood up but his authority has been taken away.
“I told Martin at half-time I didn’t blame him, but if he was brave enough to walk over to that monitor it takes 30 seconds, you go, ‘No, I’m happy with my decision’ and we play on.
“Instead we go into an environment where there’s no feel for the game or what’s happened and we make a decision. It was a sore result for us, it’s a tough one to take.”
The result means Villa remain a point above the bottom three in 17th.
They made the stronger start and took the lead via Toby Alderweireld’s own goal - with the Spurs defender prodding Anwar El Ghazi’s cross past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The Belgian atoned by equalising with a superb angled effort that flew into the top right corner of the Villa goal from 10 yards.
Spurs went in front when Steven Bergwijn won the penalty after being judged to have been fouled by home defender Bjorn Engels.
While Engels headed in from a Jack Grealish corner to again draw the sides level, his late mistake allowed Son to race clear to place the ball past Reina as Villa’s miserable run against sides in the top half the table continued.
Tottenham boss Mourinho said: “I thought we deserved to win but I think they did not deserve to lose. Villa played to win.”
On the Spurs penalty: “Steven Bergwijn, I don’t know if I call him naive or too honest - the referees tell us pre-match, ‘Don’t ask for anything, don’t surround me, don’t do the motion of the screen’. The action was there and it was a question of to be or not to be, and clearly it was.”
On Alderweireld’s contribution: “In a funny way I’d say he’s scored three goals: the own goal, his goal and then when he loses the duel with Engels. But he scored with a shot of his life.”
On the opportunity to get into the
Champions League by finishing fifth after Manchester City’s ban: “Not just for us. A window opens for many teams. What seemed far, now the fifth place is not far. Arsenal, Everton, Sheffield United, Wolves, everyone will feel they have the chance.”