Aston Villa secured a massive and much-needed 3-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in North London on Saturday, but former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes Unai Emery’s side rode their luck to secure the three points.
Goals from Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson, and Emiliano Buendia ultimately powered the Villans to their first Premier League win of the season, holding off late strikes from Tottenham. However, the dramatic encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was not without major refereeing controversy.
The Controversial Non-Call in North London
It was a cagey affair for long stretches, with the hosts looking the likelier side to break the deadlock. That momentum shifted abruptly when Manzambi stunned the home crowd by finding the back of the net to give Villa the advantage.
Just two minutes after falling behind, Spurs felt they had a golden opportunity to equalize instantly when midfielder Mateus Fernandes darted aggressively into the penalty area. As Fernandes prepared to pull the trigger, Villa midfielder Joao Gomes delivered a decisive shove from behind, knocking the Portuguese star completely off his stride and sending him tumbling to the turf.
Though Fernandes managed to get a hurried shot away that failed to trouble goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, the home side immediately erupted with furious appeals for a penalty kick. Referee Sam Barrott waved away the protests, allowing play to continue and sparking immediate post-match debate over whether Spurs were robbed of a blatant spot-kick.
Keith Hackett: “A Clear Offence”
While the referee on the pitch saw nothing punishable in the challenge, former PGMOL chief and refereeing expert Keith Hackett offered a vastly different assessment. Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Hackett pulled zero punches regarding the incident.
”Gomes has clearly pushed his opponent, Fernandes, with sufficient force that puts him off balance and he goes to ground,” Hackett stated. “A push of this nature is a clear offence and a penalty kick should have been awarded.”
Hackett’s verdict leaves little room for ambiguity, suggesting that Aston Villa and Gomes caught a massive break from the officiating crew in the capital. Had a penalty been awarded, the trajectory of the match could have changed drastically, potentially denying Villa their hard-earned win.
Heading Into the International Break
Ultimately, Unai Emery’s men will not care about the officiating fortune as they head into the international break. The dramatic 3-2 victory provides a massive morale boost and the exact tonic the doctor ordered after a rocky start to the campaign.
While Tottenham supporters are left to lament what could have been, Villa will gladly take the three points—even if the post-match analysis confirms they got away with one of the biggest let-offs of the Premier League weekend.
