West Ham's Emerson deliver as Aston Villa suffer huge Tyrone Mings injury blow
West Ham's Emerson deliver as Aston Villa suffer huge Tyrone Mings injury blow
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Emerson proved West Ham’s main man as Aston Villa got out of jail. The Italy wing-back headed home only his second goal of the season to gain Hammers a hard-earned point at Villa Park. But new boss Graham Potter thought they’d bagged a dramatic late winner when Lucas Paqueta stabbed home in the 98th minute. Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez made a hash of Andy Irving’s shot. But VAR rightly ruled Hammers captain Tomas Soucek was offside when he followed up to supply Paqueta.
The visitors, though, felt VAR dished up a dud deep into first half injury time. They felt Lucas Digne should have been red-carded deep into first half injury time after elbowing Paqueta in the stomach while awaiting a Hammers free-kick. But the check ruled otherwise and the France left-back escaped.
However, there was all sorts of nonsense going on between players amid some farcical scenes. Referee Peter Bankes struggled to keep control at times. Villa boss Unai Emery, serving a touchline suspension, was left seething in the stands. But that was more down to his side’s ineptitude - and more cruel luck for injury-plagued Tyrone Mings.
Already down to just two fit centre-defenders, a visibly upset Mings had to trudge off with a knee issue in the 31st minute. That leaves Villa in big trouble ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League visit of Celtic. This result was already a big disappointment: they have failed to deliver a Premier League win after each of their last six European games.
