HAND OF ROD!
Rodriguez palms the ball into Villa net for Albion’s late equaliser
JAY RODRIGUEZ hit a controversial 91stminute equaliser to steal a point for West Bromwich. Aston Villa had looked on their way to another big win against a play-off rival before the goal.
Striker Rodriguez controlled a cross with his arm, then nudged the ball over the line with a hand to leave Villa fuming.
West Brom had been on a run of 10 points from four games but Anwar El Ghazi’s brace looked to have sealed an important victory. Villa should have wrapped things up but would regret bad misses from Tammy Abraham.
Heading into the game, these two teams topped the Championship charts for goals scored. West Brom had been involved in 70, Villa 69. And it was the visitors who took the lead in the 12th minute.
El Ghazi collected a West Brom clearance, cut inside and hit a shot that would have been saved by Sam Johnstone but for a major deflection off Ahmed Hegazi.
Villa had the next chance, too, Johnstone diving low to keep out Abraham’s strike, but within 60 seconds West Brom had equalised.
Matt Phillips sparked a counter by launching the ball long to Harvey Barnes, who got the better of Alan Hutton, then chipped a super pass for Dwight Gayle to run on to. Gayle cushioned a volley into the corner.
The match fizzed along to a bouncing atmosphere and then, just before the hour, El Ghazi got a goal that was indisputably his.
Grealish jinked his way into the final third and rolled the ball to the Dutchman just before being clattered by Jake Livermore.
El Ghazi took a couple of touches then hit a rocket shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
But with time expiring, West Brom levelled in an incident which will infuriate Villa — Rodriguez looked sheepish after scoring — but delight West Brom.