Villa manager Lambert says ref was caught a bit ‘shorts’

LONDON: Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert expressed disbelief after Nicklas Helenius had his shorts pulled down but was denied a penalty in Tuesday’s loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup.

With Villa trailing 1-0 early in the second half at Villa Park, Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen tugged Helenius’ shorts down to his knees as the Danish striker shaped to shoot inside the Spurs area.

Despite having his underpants on show, Helenius proceeded to fire a shot over the bar, but Lambert felt he should have been awarded a penalty.

“It is the first time I have seen something like that happen,” said the Villa manager, whose side went on to lose 4-0.

“You hope you get those decisions. I don’t think anybody could believe he wasn’t pulled back.”

Lambert also revealed that striker Christian Benteke will be out for around six weeks with a hip injury.

Last season’s top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions, the Belgian international sustained the injury in his side’s 1-0 win at Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.

“It is not as bad as we feared it was going to be,” said Lambert.

“Maybe four, five, six weeks or so.”

Lambert made the announcement after the League Cup match.

Benteke, who signed a new fouryear contract in July, had scored five goals in his first five appearances this season prior to the win over Norwich.

The news means he is likely to miss Belgium’s final two World Cup qualifiers next month.

“The medical people give you the best and worst-case scenario,” Lambert added.

“You are never quite sure until you hear from the professor. Thankfully, it is not too serious.

“It has got a lot better and he is feeling a lot better and the international break certainly helps us.” — AFP