(Credit: Match of the Day)
Keith Hackett
Mon 10 March 2025 14:16, UK
Brentford defender Nathan Collins should have been sent off during his side’s defeat to Aston Villa, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the 23-year-old used “excessive force” with a stoppage time challenge on Youri Tielemens.
Brentford were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa at the G-Tech Stadium on Saturday (8 March), with former Bees striker Ollie Watkins scoring the only goal of the game.
That is a blow to Thomas Frank‘s side as they pursue a top-half finish in the Premier League, and things could have been worse for them had Collins been properly sanctioned late on.
Keith Hackett on Nathan Collins foul on Youri Tielemans
Keith Hackett believes Nathan Collins should have been sent off
Nathan Collins only booked for Youri Tielemans foul
While Brentford were denied two penalties in that game, Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers was also left frustrated by VAR after seeing a goal disallowed for offside.
The visitors will also have been unhappy that Collins’ booking for a foul on Tielemans was not reviewed and upgraded to a red.
Brentford last five games Result
Tottenham (H) Lost 2-0
West Ham (A) Won 1-0
Leicester (A) Won 4-0
Everton (H) Drew 1-1
Aston Villa (H) Lost 1-0
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
As the hosts went in search of an equaliser deep into stoppage time, the Brentford centre-back produced a reckless sliding challenge that saw him catch the leg of the Aston Villa midfielder with his studs first.
He was then booked by Jarred Gillett, with VAR confirming that decision and therefore not recommending an on-field review.
Hackett though, believes the defender was lucky that there was no intervention to increase his punishment even further.
‘Brentford man should have been off after Aston Villa clash’ – Keith Hackett
Speaking to Football Insider about that foul on Tielemans from Collins, the former referee said:
“He’s very fortunate. I think it’s one of those borderlines where genuinely he’s come in and used excessive force.
“I think he’s fortunate that he’s escaped a red card. I think it’s excessive force, his foot is high on his opponent, he’s out of control.
“I would have liked the VAR in that situation, I know he’s given a yellow, I would have liked the VAR to have come in and said to the referee ‘you need to take another look’.
“If I was assessing the referee I would have expected a red card in that situation. You can’t allow that sort of challenge to go unpunished in that way. A yellow card’s not enough, it’s more than reckless that challenge.”
Brentford will next travel to Bournemouth on Saturday (15 March), while Aston Villa can now focus on the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash with Club Brugge.
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