Aston Villa go into the international break with three defeats to their name from four matches.
Gary Lineker and Stan Collymore were fuming on Twitter after Aston Villa saw a goal being chalked off by referee Kevin Friend for an apparent Jack Grealish dive during their clash at Crystal Palace.
Dean Smith’s side, who ended up losing the game 1-0, were, as expected, chasing an equaliser in the dying moments when Grealish made a run into the penalty area.
That run resulted in him being challenged by a couple of Palace players, and despite the ball falling to Henri Lansbury’s feet, who slotted home, the referee blew the whistle for an apparent Grealish infringement.
It was something that didn’t impress former strikers Lineker or Collymore as they aired their views via their personal Twitter accounts. Lineker questioned why VAR didn’t overturn such an ‘awful error’, whilst Collymore stated that Grealish is an ‘odd one’ and the goal should have stood.
It is something that will no doubt leave Villa annoyed and angry because replays clearly showed that Grealish was fouled in the build-up to the goal.
In the end, it has cost the Midlands outfit a point on the road as they head into the international break with three defeats and one win from their four league matches.
Performance-wise, there have been encouraging signs by Smith’s men, but they’ll perhaps just be that little disappointed that they don’t have the points on the board that they perhaps deserve.
When Villa return from the international break, they will face a tough home fixture against West Ham United, who have picked up some good form.
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