Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.
West Bromwich Albion boss James Shan has told The Birmingham Mail that he thinks his side should have been given a penalty against Aston Villa on Saturday, but striker Tammy Abraham tricked the referee.
The Baggies made the short trip to Villa Park looking to score an early advantage in their Championship play-off semi-final clash, but ended up losing 2-1.
Dwight Gayle capitalised on a Glenn Whelan error to put West Brom in front, before Conor Hourihane’s long-range goal brought the scoreline level.
Villa then snatched the win as Jack Grealish was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area despite seemingly minimal contact, and Abraham scored.
Villa now take that 2-1 lead to The Hawthorns this week, and face a wait to hear whether Grealish will be banned for diving, but West Brom aren’t happy about another incident.
At 2-1, Baggies defender Mason Holgate was going for a header, but was pushed over by Abraham, who then went down injured himself, and referee Graham Scott didn’t give a penalty.
Now, boss Shan has admitted that he thought the spot kick should have been given, feeling there was no intent by Abraham to play the ball, but accused him of pretending to be injured in order to trick the referee and not give a penalty.
“I do,” said Shan when asked if West Brom should have been given a penalty. It’s a penalty on Mason Holgate all day long, there’s no intent to win the ball by Abraham. I think he’s been very cute in the manner that he knows he’s in the wrong and he stays down on the pitch and plays he’s injured. All day long for me that’s a clear cut penalty for a foul on Mason Holgate,” he added.
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