Aston Villa manager Unai Emery cut a furious figure at full-time on Tuesday night, directing his anger squarely at match official Andy Madley following a contentious 0-0 Premier League draw at Selhurst Park.
Late Penalty Incident Sparks Managerial Outburst
The flashpoint occurred deep into the match as Villa pushed for a late winner. From a set-piece, Youri Tielemans appeared to be held by Crystal Palace defender Brennan Johnson inside the penalty area. Despite vehement appeals from the Villa players, referee Andy Madley waved play on, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene to recommend a review.
Emery's frustration was compounded by the fact that, earlier in the second half, VAR had spent considerable time checking a potential penalty for Johnson at the other end. The Villa boss stormed over to Madley immediately after the final whistle to make his feelings known.
Emery's Post-Match Comments on Refereeing Consistency
When questioned about his visible anger post-match, 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, highlighting the perceived inconsistency: "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."
Missed Chances Define Stalemate at Selhurst Park
Beyond the controversy, the match itself was one of missed opportunities for the visitors. Ollie Watkins came closest to breaking the deadlock, seeing a powerful header cannon back off the post in the second half. The Villa forward had also been presented with two earlier chances, while Palace's Tyrick Mitchell had two separate handball incidents go unpunished before the interval.
Crystal Palace, now without a win in eight matches, had moments of their own, with Justin Devenny denied by a crucial Lucas Digne block. However, Villa will feel they missed a significant opportunity to capitalise on their host's poor form and secure all three points, leaving them to rue the officiating and their own profligacy in front of goal.
