Last Saturday’s clash at Villa Park between Midlands’ rivals Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Final first leg carried a number of talking points.
Villa fans are discussing their poor performance, West Brom fans are discussing the decision to seemingly play for the draw and look to nick something on the break, we have penalty claims and the double yellow carding of top scorer Dwight Gayle for challenging for a perfectly good ball with their goalkeeper.
Ultimately, the tie went against us and we now have a one goal deficit to overcome on Tuesday evening in the second leg at The Hawthorns, and whilst the game is far from over, losing Gayle for the clash is a massive blow – especially as Hal Robson-Kanu’s petulance in the regular season curtain closer also sees him suspended for the match.
Taking to social media to react to Gayle’s red, West Brom fans were understandably fuming – as was interim head coach Jimmy Shan over the decision.
He was entitled to go for that
— Nick Holder (@valetudocage) May 11, 2019
ref making it about him. He is entitled to go for it. Reaction from villa got the card. Embarrassing. If we lose because the others are better then fair enough. This isn’t though. Win fairly. I’m afraid this isn’t it.
— Chris (@chrisflower4) May 11, 2019
Shocking decision from a shocking ref. Was a 50/50 challenge
— Dave Neale (@baggiedave70) May 11, 2019
Ive never seem a player booked for that kind of thing ever
— RheisF (@RheisF) May 11, 2019
Replays show it is an awful decision. Gayle pulls out of a 50 50
— John Francis (@JohnFrancisBC) May 11, 2019
Not a foul this ref is shocking honesty pathetic display from the ref
— nikki tucker (@nikkitucker) May 11, 2019
What's the refs name? @EFL surely an investigation needs to be done about this game? Ref for this game and against derby have been an absolute disgrace!
— Will Man (@irishbaggie) May 11, 2019