‘Ridiculous’: BBC pundit slams what Southampton man did in 23rd-minute vs Aston Villa

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Michael Brown has criticised Tino Livramento for his reaction to Anwar El Ghazi’s cynical foul during Southampton’s win over Aston Villa, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live (5/11, 20:27).

The Saints extended their unbeaten run to four Premier League games thanks to a stunning strike from Adam Armstrong. While extending the Villans’ misery to five-straight defeats.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side managed to hold on to a one-goal lead following Armstrong’s third-minute, first-time rocket from 20-yards out. Leaving Emiliano Martinez routed to the spot.

Aston Villa started poorly on their trip to Southampton, but came out of the break offering some fight. With El Ghazi and Emiliano Buendia both going close to drawing Villa level.

El Ghazi may have frustrated the Saints further found he found the back of Alex McCarthy’s net. After the forward – who Aston Villa are open to selling – had avoided an early red card.

Should Madley have sent El Ghazi off in Aston Villa’s loss at Southampton?

Referee Andrew Madley chose against showing the 26-year-old a second yellow card in the 23rd-minute at St Mary’s on Friday.

Madley had already shown El Ghazi a caution on 11-minutes after the Aston Villa winger cynically tripped Southampton’s Livramento. Chopping the Saints’ £5m summer signing from Chelsea down as he tried to show him a clean pair of heels.

El Ghazi and Livramento would again come together soon after with the Aston Villa forward hacking the Southampton full-back down. Clattering into the England U21 full-back with a robust challenge and a hand on the shoulder.

But while Southampton may have felt El Ghazi deserved a second yellow, at least, Brown took issue with how Livramento reacted to the £31k-a-week Aston Villa winger’s tackle.

“El Ghazi is asking the question. Why is Livramento feeling his face? It’s ridiculous,” he said.

“Has he been slightly pulled back? Yes. Contact was on the top of his shoulder. If he’d pulled his shirt, it would be a second yellow card, but not for me.”