We\u2019re becoming accustomed to the odd thriller at the Villa \u2013 with 21 goals shared in only five games at Villa Park this term \u2013 but on the road this season, Villa have been even more impressive. So when Smith\u2019s side came unstuck early on through an Angelo Ogbonna header from a corner, you\u2019d be forgiven in thinking that Villa might\u2019ve started a little brighter.<\/p>\n
Despite the mercurial Jack Grealish pegging the Hammers back with a drill of his own, Villa would pay for another slow start in the second period as Sa\u00efd Benrahma made good use of his first touches after coming on from the substitute bench.<\/p>\n
Jarrod Bowen\u2019s dad might be a Villa fan at heart, but after his son scored his second career goal against Villa, things were just about to get all the more frustrating for fans of the original claret and blue persuasion.<\/p>\n
The hosts might well have only been wearing their own cut of claret and blue because of a 140-year-old bet at a fair nearby Villa Park \u2013 but what unravelled next might not have surprised you so much.<\/p>\n
When William Dove \u2013 a sprinter of national repute \u2013 beat four Villa players in a race, he was given a set of claret and blue shirts<\/a> in the summer of 1899. The Thames Ironworks would later pass down Villa\u2019s unique strip to West Ham United, but back in those days, football was a far simpler game.<\/p>\n Ollie Watkins had blown his lines from the spot as Villa went in search for a deserved equaliser in the second half, but quite frankly, for every bit of poor quality or passed up the opportunity, it was plain misfortune and odd refereeing decisions that denied Villa their tenth away point of the season.<\/p>\n Villa are the only team left in the Premier League yet to register a draw having played nine matches so far this term \u2013 but Smith\u2019s side will feel like they passed up on all three even if they walked away from East London empty-handed.<\/p>\n As the 93rd minute passed on the clock and Ogbonna\u2019s hands grappled Watkins\u2019 neck, Villa\u2019s well-placed striker managed to wriggle free to score his ninth goal in all competitions this season\u2026 but with muted celebrations from Villa fans in front rooms across the world, the inevitable VAR check was about to take place.<\/p>\n Out came the protractors and rulers \u2013 dotted lines are the chosen method of accuracy in today\u2019s game. Welcome to football in 2020, where you, a \u00a330 million striker must avoid being fouled, remain onside and indeed take your chance in the dying embers of a match that could propel your team into the top four.<\/p>\n In fact, that\u2019s exactly what Watkins did. His sleeve was millimetres offside as Ogbonna\u2019s arms pushed him quite literally over the dotted line \u2013 how on earth did it come to this?<\/p>\n The video assistant referee spent exactly 2:05 minutes deliberating whether Watkins\u2019 outstretched arm made him offside and finally reached the decision, much to the striker\u2019s and indeed most other football fans\u2019 disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had a goal disallowed for a part of the body that can\u2019t score a goal anyway,\u201d Villa manager Smith said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only reason his arm is out there is because he\u2019s getting fouled. I don\u2019t understand that. If his arm is out there because he\u2019s getting fouled, that\u2019s a penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just wrong. That is the easiest way to describe it. Offside is offside, I have no problem with that rule. But they have given offside for a part of the body that can\u2019t put the ball in the back of the net.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only reason the arm is where it is, is because he is being fouled by someone who had his arms round his neck.<\/p>\n Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were equally as bemused as they deliberated the use of VAR in a lively on-air discussion after Watkins thought he\u2019d bagged a well-earned point for Villa.<\/p>\n Speaking after the game, Carragher admitted he was a \u2018big advocate\u2019 of VAR before it was introduced to the Premier League, but says that is now not the case due to its detrimental impact on fans across England.<\/p>\n He said on Monday Night Football<\/a>: \u201cThe offside decision\u2026 obviously when you do the lines you do the lines. You actually look at how long these shirts are.. would that have made a difference? You have to make them shorter in some ways.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s actually getting grappled by the defender \u2013 he\u2019s trying to get off him. The fact he\u2019s trying to get off him means that he\u2019s offside. That\u2019s the frustrating thing now with VAR when they\u2019re doing offsides.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going off the shirt now because the handball rule has been changed. But you\u2019re looking at it and it actually could be a penalty. There was a similar one with Bamford for Leeds against Crystal Palace a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a massive fan of VAR before it came in and what I mean by that is I think the people who brought VAR in weren\u2019t trying to ruin the game, they were trying to help the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI almost didn\u2019t say anything about it at the start and was almost defending it because there was bound to be teething problems and criticisms, but give it a chance.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think we\u2019re at the stage with VAR that it does good things and bad things, but the majority of the people in this country haven\u2019t bought VAR. I don\u2019t think fans are enjoying the football as much [as a result].<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you what the biggest thing for me with VAR is that I felt sad watching a game recently. The goalkeeper [David Marshall] makes a save in a penalty shoot-out.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was possibly the biggest moment in his career and massive for Scotland getting to a tournament, but he couldn\u2019t celebrate at the time!<\/p>\n \u201cHe had to stop and wait and look at the officials thinking \u2018please God make sure my foot hasn\u2019t come off that line\u2019. He couldn\u2019t celebrate that moment and I think that\u2019s a big thing with supporters now.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a big advocate of VAR, but if I could go back or certainly use it in a different way I think I would, no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Manchester United and England defender Neville still wants VAR to be used but believes some of the laws must be changed as a matter of priority to appease fans.<\/p>\n \u201cI was for VAR and I\u2019m still for it,\u201d Neville said. \u201cI\u2019m against a couple of the rule changes. I don\u2019t think the offside rule is clear enough. The new handball rule, which, to be fair we\u2019ve all been against, has created more problems for the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that with offside, do we want accurate decisions? Yes. Footballers and coaches, for 25, 30, 40 years have complained about referees and a lack of accuracy.<\/p>\n \u201cThese referees are not good enough, they can\u2019t keep up with the game. So, we brought VAR in for the correct reasons because the game is so quick, and we want accuracy with so much at stake.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I would say is it does need refining and it does need to be improved. The biggest problem I have with it at the moment, and I am against the grain, is the fans hate it. I have a problem with it because ultimately the game should be about enjoyment for the fans.<\/p>\n \u201cI am for it, but I\u2019m aware the fans hate it, and that is my concern. I want accuracy. I played football at the top and I whinged for years about referees, so I want accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n Other than the late controversy, Villa were made to pay for poor defending and finishing as they returned from the London Stadium empty-handed despite dominating the game \u2013 Villa must channel their frustration ahead of heading to Wolves a week Saturday after this Friday\u2019s fixture against Newcastle was postponed<\/a>.<\/p>\n The post Aston Villa\u2019s unbeaten away record stolen by VAR<\/a> appeared first on AVFC – Avillafan.com – Aston Villa Fansite, Blog, & Forum..<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Bloody](\"http:\/\/www.avillafan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Trezeguet-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDean Smith bemoans the use VAR<\/h3>\n
\u2018The game should be about enjoyment for the fans\u2019<\/h3>\n
![\"VAR](\"http:\/\/www.avillafan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/VAR_Nogoal.jpg\")
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