Aston Villa
(Credit: Imago)
Keith Hackett
Sat 8 March 2025 19:28, UK
John McGinn is never far from the drama after Aston Villa beat Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Ollie Watkins scored the winner at the GTECH Community Stadium after a tight affair, with Morgan Rogers also having a second half goal disallowed by VAR for offside.
McGinn is the heartbeat of the Villa side under Unai Emery, but was booked for an altercation with Yoane Wissa, before being taken off in the second half.
Aston Villa
John McGinn (Credit: Imago)
John McGinn controversy blasted at Aston Villa
Jarred Gillett quickly booked McGinn as Wissa crumbled to the floor holding his face, but replays showed zero contact with the striker.
Keith Hackett was less than impressed, insisting that officials need to start recognising playacting and punishing that, rather than the other way round.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, the ex-FIFA referee and PGMOL chief could not believe what he was watching as the skipper was punished.
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“Oh dear, when are we going to see referees recognising and acting on players who commit the offence of simulation to deceive the referee,” Hackett said.
“The referee has got it wrong, and sadly, VAR is unable to intervene to allow the referee to have another look at this
“McGinn should not have received a yellow card.”
Aston Villa
Unai Emery (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa in huge Premier League win
After a couple of months with dreaded inconsistency, peaking with that 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, the Villans appear to be back on track.
With three consecutive games in different competitions, Emery has picked up wins in the FA Cup, Champions League and now the Premier League.
Club Brugge are next up in the second leg of the round of 16 at Villa Park, and with a two-goal advantage, Aston Villa just needed to win no matter what at Brentford.
With just two points separating them and the top four, as things stand, Villa are back to their best.
Premier League Played Points GD
4. Man City 28 47 15
5. Chelsea 27 46 16
6. Brighton 28 46 6
7. Aston Villa 29 45 -4
Race for Premier League top four
While goal difference could play a big part in the race for Champions League football, Villa will be confident they can turn that around.
Crucial games against Brighton and Nottingham Forest are around the corner, and winning both of those would turn everything on its head.
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