The Italian goalkeeper’s distribution let him down again
Only a freak late goal from Huddersfield Town defender Michael Hefele at Villa Park on Tuesday could deny Aston Villa a second straight win in the Championship.
£12 million summer signing Ross McCormack opened his Villa account early in the first half, but Hefele equalised inadvertently three minutes from time when he was struck by Pierluigi Gollini’s attempted clearance, which rebounded into an empty net.
It was only the second goal Roberto Di Matteo’s side have conceded in the league this season – though the two bear striking similarities.
There were five minutes left on the clock when Fernando Forestieri struck Sheffield Wednesday’s winner on the campaign’s opening weekend, having pounced on a loose ball following his fellow Italian’s sliced clearance.
Most Villa fans assumed their goalkeeping troubles were over following Brad Guzan’s departure to Middlesbrough last month, especially having paid £4.25 million for his replacement Gollini.
Understandably, the 21-year-old bore the brunt of the fans’ frustrations on social media – though plenty of kind souls were also out in force.
This is what they are saying…
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