Chris Wood’s penalty for Nottingham Forest gives them a 1-0 advantage over Aston Villa following the first leg of their Europa League semi-final – after VAR drama at the City Ground.
Lucas Digne was adjudged to have handballed inside the penalty box, despite the officials initially awarding a goal-kick to Villa. Replays showed that the ball was still in play when Omari Hutchinson hooked the ball against the Frenchman’s stray arm.
Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne handles the ball in the penalty area
Wood’s spot-kick was too strong for Emiliano Martinez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper finally beaten after having produced a sensational stop in the first half. He not only kept out Igor Jesus’ volley but then grasped hold of the ball before it crossed the line.
Emiliano Martinez made a superb save to deny Igor Jesus
Villa will wonder whether they did enough, despite Ollie Watkins being denied by Stefan Ortega at point-blank range. Unai Emery, the Europa League master, was happy for his side to slow the tempo for much of the contest – even once Forest had taken the lead.
Emery will hope that the atmosphere at Villa Park, where Forest have a poor record, will be very different. But this was Forest’s night.The banner in the Trent End before kick-off celebrated those two European triumphs in 1979 and 1980. They’re dreaming of a third.
Pereira lauds Forest players
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports:
“It was a very tough team, but I think we competed with them. Eyes on us, like I like to see, playing football, trying to score. It was a good game. We have enough time now to recover a bit, prepare for the game against Chelsea. This is a special group of players.
“I have the honour, the privilege, to be the manager of these boys. They are a fantastic group. Spirit, facing four managers in a season and finishing at this level, competing at this level, together with the spirit of the team. It’s wonderful.”
Emery rages at ‘crazy’ Watkins call
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Unai Emery was incensed over the lack of punishment from VAR for Elliot Anderson’s ‘ankle-breaking’ challenge on Ollie Watkins
Emery’s main focus in the press conference after the game centred on a challenge by Elliot Anderson on Watkins that was “close to breaking his ankle” according to the Villa boss. The referee did not even award a foul against Anderson for the first-half incident.
The Basque coach did not blame the Portuguese referee for that but he was incensed that the VAR did not opt to intervene having seen the replays.
“I watched the action of Anderson with Watkins. The referee did a fantastic game, a fantastic job. I was feeling so comfortable with how he was managing the match in the 90 minutes,” said Emery.
“But after watching the VAR it is a huge mistake. Huge mistake. Because Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle. And the VAR, his responsibility is his responsibility. I don’t understand why. He must give an explanation about it.
“Because it’s crazy. Watching the action, it’s crazy.
“Of course, the referee cannot watch it, like me. But most important is the players. One action like this can break his ankle. And it is so clear. VAR makes sense, if they are fair.
“What is your opinion about it? Wow. I watched it, I was not understanding nothing.
“In football, I am working 20 years as a coach and sometimes they make mistakes but always making tight decisions sometimes. And without VAR it was more and more difficult.
“I am always 100 per cent with VAR, 100 per cent. But we must manage VAR good and in the right way. One action like that does not make sense because it is so, so clear. It’s no doubt. Where is the doubt?
“Where is the doubt watching the action? Where is it?”
What was Digne thinking?
It has been a week of controversial and occasionally maddening penalty awards for handball in European competition but there will be less sympathy for Digne. His mistake decided the first leg of this semi-final and could yet cost his side the trophy.
The initial decision of the officials to award a goal-kick was understandable as the ball was so close to going out. What was less explicable was Digne sticking his hands in the air and allowing the enterprising Hutchinson to hit the ball against them. A bad error, punished.
What’s coming up for Forest and Villa?
Before next Thursday’s second leg at Villa Park, Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest’s relegation rivals Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday; kick-off at 7pm.
Forest are also in Premier League action and face a trip to Chelsea on Monday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off at 3pm.
Monday 4th May 2:30pm
Kick off 3:00pm
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