Aston Villa were denied the opening goal at Manchester United in a game they needed to get a result from for a top-five finish
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Thomas Bramall shows a yellow card to Morgan Rogers
Referee Thomas Bramall has come under fire for his performance at Old Trafford.
(Image: Getty Images)
Pundit Richard Keys has slammed Thomas Bramall's decision to pull back play and, as a result, rule out Morgan Rogers' goal for Aston Villa at Manchester United.
A goal at Old Trafford at that point would have given the Villans the lead in a game from which they needed a result to qualify for the Champions League.
As it is, they lost 2-0, and former Sky Sports and talkSPORT presenter Keys, writing in his weekly blog, described the call by Bramall to deny Rogers a goal having deemed the playmaker to have kicked the ball out of the hands of United keeper Altay Bayindir as a 'monstrous error'.
Villa missed out on the Champions League on Sunday after Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest and despite the fact Newcastle United slipped up at home to Everton. Those results meant Villa would only have required a point to claim a top five place.
Keys added that he'd consider suing if he were Villa, when taking into account the amount of money they've missed out on as a result.
"Thomas Bramall’s monstrous error on the pitch at OT summed up the PGMOL’s season for me," Keys wrote on his blog, summing up the Premier League's final weekend of the season. "What a horror moment he had, compounded by his mates at Stockley Park.
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"What was he doing there? Why was he given such an important match? Villa are right to ask those questions. It was far too big a game for him. He’s had a bang average season - yet he was put in charge whilst Michael Oliver sat in the ref's bunker. I know Oliver hasn’t been at his best either, but he’s a better ref than Bramall.
"I say Bramall’s error was compounded by his mates because as he disallowed the goal VAR was immediately cut to line. Why? Didn’t they know Bramall had whistled before the ball was in the net? The answer is ‘no’ - they didn’t. I guarantee you a tech operator pointed it out.
"There they were fiddling about to see if the decision was correct - which it wasn’t - when they realised they couldn’t use VAR. What a mess. Thomas and his friends tanked. The incident kind of summed up their season - not good enough and riddled with errors. I’m sad to say Howard Webb has been a huge let down.
"I backed him hoping he’d make things better at the PGMOL. He hasn't. He’s arguably made things worse, although he’ll have marked his own homework by now and announce another triumph shortly.
"Bramall’s clanger has cost Villa something like £150m. I’d consider suing if I was at the club. The mistake wasn’t a matter of opinion. It was a matter of fact.
"One other thing. Why was Martinez sent off? Hojlund was heading away from goal - just like Haaland in the Cup Final. It should be noted Dean Henderson pushed the ball away to send Haaland wide, but he stayed on. Martinez went - even though Villa had a covering defender getting back into position. Both decisions can’t be correct."
How do you reflect on Villa's season as a whole? Have your say HERE
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The brilliant Aston Villa merchandise that every fan will want to own
Aston Villa fans can celebrate the end of the season and their love of all things claret and blue in style by getting their hands on some limited edition merchandise.
We've taken a look at a few products in the Villa store for those wishing to add a bit of class to their bedroom, homes or maybe a home bar?
These products are available for a limited time and have that wow factor that would be the envy of any supporter.
The first product we spotted is the wonderful Aston Villa 'dream scene' painting.
It depicts the greats of Villa past and present with the likes of Unai Emery sharing a conversation with Ron Saunders, and Peter Withe sharing a joke with Gareth Barry.
The brilliant dressing room scene is available on a 130 x 43cm canvas and comes with a souvenir booklet. There were only 150 of these made to commemorate Villa's 150 year anniversary.
You can buy it here
If you want a cheaper alternative, you could try the 90 x 60cm lithos print of the same scene, again with the booklet and a limited edition piece.
You can buy that here
If you fancy a bit of fun and owning your very own Villa Park, you can with this construction model replica of the stadium.
Complete with club branding, this is fun to assemble and will be the perfect addition to your household or workplace.
You can buy it here
Maybe you'd like to construct a replica of the Villa players and staff bus that they travel to away games in? You can now purchase that from the club shop, by clicking here
Aston Villa adidas 150th Anniversary Shirt 24-25 (£55)
The aforementioned blacked-out anniversary kit has proven to be hugely popular with fans, particularly those who have noticed the subtle nods to Villa's history in the details.
Due to the high demand, the club store currently only has kids sizes 7 - 9 years old in stock at a price of £55. This item has an 'almost gone' tag on the site.
Buy here.
Aston Villa adidas 150th Anniversary Track Top - Claret (£70)
This long sleeve track top has also proven to be a popular pick amongst fans. The club store describes the jacket by saying:
"Before football players take the pitch for warmups, they answer questions from the media wearing an adidas jacket like this one."
Buy here.
Aston Villa 150 Year Anniversary Hoodie - Navy (£45)
Featuring a retro club badge, this hoodie is still available in all Mens' sizes on the club store, which describes the item by saying "Relax in style and comfort. Featuring the iconic club crest, this is an essential item for fans of all ages."
This item is also available in claret for both men and women, though only in sizes XL and S for women limited stock left.
Buy navy here and claret here.
Aston Villa 150 Years in Pictures Book (£25)
The first of two books available to purchase in Villa's 150th season. The describes the picture book as a way to "Celebrate the storied history of Aston Villa and their illustrious history spanning a century and a half with this premium-quality photo book."
Buy here.
Aston Villa 150 Years Book Volume Two (£40)
The long-awaited second volume moves Aston Villa's remarkable story forward – with the ups and downs between 1950 and 2024 given the same care and attention as the first volume.
Buy here.
Aston Villa 150 Year Anniversary Polo Shirt - White (£30)
"Represent your club wherever you go. Suitable for matchday and casual wear, the polo is perfect for fans of all ages."
This item is available in all sizes but XS on the club store and is also available for kids in claret at a higher price of £35.
Buy the mens' polo here and the kids' claret polo here.
Aston Villa 150 Year Anniversary T-Shirt - Claret and Navy (£25)
"Suitable for wearing on matchdays and beyond, this is a must-have for supporters of all ages. Perfect for walks with the dog, or when relaxing on holiday, the t-shirt allows you to proudly sport your pride and passion."
Buy mens' claret here, womens' claret here and navy here.
Aston Villa 150 Years Anniversary Scarf - Claret (£15)
"Take the love for your team with you. The scarf tops off your winter look, and is an essential item for supporters."
Buy the scarf here.
Aston Villa 150 Years Badge & Keyring Set - Boxed (£15)
Display the love for your team. Perfect for your hat or scarf, this is a must-have for fans of all ages.
Buy the set here.
Aston Villa 150 Years Mug - 11oz (£8)
"Start your day off right with a drink from this. Whether it's tea, coffee or hot chocolate this mug is perfect for fans to enjoy an exquisite beverage."
Buy the mug here.