Aston Villa manager Unai Emery cut a furious figure at full-time on Tuesday night, directing his anger squarely at referee Andy Madley following a contentious 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park.
Late Incident Sparks Managerial Outburst
The flashpoint occurred in the dying moments of the Premier League clash. As Villa pushed for a winner from a set-piece, Youri Tielemans appeared to be held by Crystal Palace's Brennan Johnson inside the penalty area. No spot-kick was given, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene to recommend a review.
Emery's frustration boiled over immediately after the final whistle, with the Spaniard storming across to confront official Madley. His anger was compounded by the fact that VAR had spent time earlier in the second half checking a potential penalty for Johnson at the other end, which Emery felt was a less clear-cut case.
Emery's Post-Match Critique
When questioned about his visible anger, Emery was pointed in his criticism. "I respect the referees, but they must check the action on Youri Tielemans. It is a potential penalty," he stated.
He continued, "I don't know who is in the VAR, but if they checked Brennan Johnson's possible penalty, which was clear for me, then Tielemans' possible penalty in the corner should have been checked. He was being held for one, two, three seconds. I think this is the action."
Chances Go Begging in Stalemate
Despite the late controversy, Villa had the better opportunities to claim all three points. Ollie Watkins came closest, seeing a powerful header cannon back off the post in the second half. The Villa forward also had two earlier chances, while Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell had two separate handball incidents go unpunished before the break.
At the other end, Lucas Digne made a crucial block to deny Justin Devenny, but the hosts extended their winless run to eight matches. Villa left South London with a point but a strong sense of injustice, feeling they had missed a prime opportunity to capitalise on their opponent's poor form.
The result and the officiating decisions will undoubtedly fuel discussions as Unai Emery's side reflects on a night where victory slipped through their fingers.
