Roy Hodgson said his Crystal Palace side did not need to “apologise” for their 1-0 Premier League win over 10-man Aston Villa, after the visitors had a late equaliser controversially ruled out. Jordan Ayew’s instinctive finish ultimately decided the match at Selhurst Park, but Villa were incensed as Henri Lansbury’s added-time effort was disallowed for what referee Kevin Friend judged to be a dive by Jack Grealish in the build-up. It also prompted angry scenes off the pitch, with TV footage showing punches being thrown at security staff by spectators in the away end. Police with batons eventually intervened, making one arrest, with video footage under review to assess if further action is necessary. “It’s unfortunate in some ways for us that it’s all going to centre around the controversy at the end,” said Hodgson, whose side are up to fourth in the formative Premier League table after back-to-back wins. “Lucky for us the referee had made his decision before the ball had gone in the net and that was to give the free-kick,” he added. “I don’t think we need to apologise at all for the fact that we won the game.” Villa manager Dean Smith admitted he was bemused by the decision to deny his side a point, but accepted they would “take it on the chin”. Smith said: “I’m not sure any of us know why the referee has given the decision. We’ve all looked at it back and nobody can see why he hasn’t given the goal.” In a statement, the Premier League said: “The referee considered that Jack Grealish committed an act of simulation in the penalty area, and blew his whistle to stop the game before the ball went into goal. “Under the Ifab protocol the video assistant referee system (VAR) is allowed to review the potential penalty situation. Having reviewed the incident the VAR judged that no ‘clear and obvious’ error had occurred and the on-field decision of simulation remained. “The VAR was unable to check the ‘goal’ because the whistle went before the ball went into the net.” Earlier, the hosts had looked to be heading for another home blank, despite Villa’s Trezeguet seeing red for a second bookable offence - the Egyptian’s dismissal, for a late challenge on Wilfried Zaha, among seven bookings dished out by referee Friend. But with time running out, Ghanaian Ayew, who was part of the Villa side relegated from the top flight in 2016, tricked his way past Tyone Mings and Grealish before firing low beyond Tom Heaton. It means Ayew has now scored in consecutive Premier League games, having also struck in the win at Manchester United. But it was another frustrating day for his Eagles team-mate Zaha, who has now scored just once in his last 17 home league appearances. Villa feel ‘robbed’ of away point Aston Villa beat Everton at home last time out, but are now winless in 20 Premier League away games, losing their last nine in a row. And after a late collapse at Tottenham denied them any points in their only other away league game this season, Lansbury’s disallowed goal was a bitter pill to swallow for Smith’s side. Deep into six added minutes, a hand from Zaha appeared to set Grealish - making his 150th appearance for Villa - off balance as he bore down on the Palace 18-yard box. But the Villa captain succeeded in completing his pass to Lansbury before running into first Gary Cahill and then the turf. The decision of referee Friend prompted desperate protests from the visitors and their supporters, with Cahill holding Grealish back from the official as he was booked. Speaking afterwards, Villa midfielder John McGinn said replays of the incident “speaks for itself” and claimed his side had been “robbed of a point”. --- *The Guardian* *Saturday 31 August 2019* “Aston Villa rage at disallowed equaliser as Ayew earns Crystal Palace win” The sting in this game’s tail left Aston Villa numb. A contest their depleted number appeared to have surrendered sparked back into life deep into stoppage time, with Jack Grealish scuttling away, via a touch from Wilfried Zaha, to tear into the penalty area at a backtracking Gary Cahill. The visitors’ captain was stumbling but still shifted the ball to his right as he fell beyond the crumpling defender, his eyes darting to Henri Lansbury at his side as the substitute converted a low shot into the far corner. Villa’s delight would be choked almost immediately. Kevin Friend, subsequently described as “card happy” by a simmering Dean Smith after booking four visiting players in the first half and sending off Trézéguet for a second offence, had blown his whistle for simulation as the substitute connected with his effort. Grealish never appealed for a penalty, for all that two of his teammates did call for the award, but the perceived dive still provoked another flash of yellow and a sense of outrage among players and travelling fans alike. Their protests would extend well after the final whistle, with ugly clashes with stewards and police at the front of the Arthur Wait stand. “He got a nudge from Zaha in the back and, as he offloads it, Cahill comes into the tackle as well,” said Smith. “Simulation? No chance. Someone just put to me that his reputation may precede him. Well, he was the most fouled played in the Championship last season for a reason. He may be in this league as well. “If you’re Jack Grealish, you’d be raging. He’s made a great run, laid it off for Henri Lansbury to score, and now he’s had his integrity questioned not only by the officials here, but in Stockley Park as well. It was a perfectly good goal for me.” A Premier League official on site confirmed the decision had been checked by the VAR, Andrew Madley, as a matter of course and was deemed not to warrant reversal. It was no consolation for Villa that an equaliser would have been out of context in a one-sided game. A bright start aside, Smith said their display had lacked intensity until that frantic finale and once their number had been depleted they had rather clung to the contest until prised apart by a player they once counted their own. Jordan Ayew remains an unlikely hero. The Ghanaian had spent 18 months at Villa, with whom he was relegated back in 2016, and had cost £2.5m when secured from Swansea City over the summer having spent last season on loan in these parts. Yet, having scored at Old Trafford the previous weekend, he has already scored twice as many league goals this season as last to ensure Crystal Palace, a team who had failed to win a home game until December last season, have broken their duck at the second attempt this time. His winner summed up his industrious style. Villa, further blunted in Trézéguet’s absence, had actually been mustering a rare attack which broke down as Vicente Guaita collected. The goalkeeper’s throw was collected by Luka Milivojević and the ball ushered on down the flank by Jeffrey Schlupp for the Ghanaian to collect. He benefited from some fortune to retain possession as he twisted back inside and between Tyrone Mings and Grealish, but the finish was converted accurately across Tom Heaton and into the far corner. --- *The Guardian* *Saturday 31 August 2019* “The sting in this game’s tail left Aston Villa numb. A contest their depleted number appeared to have surrendered sparked back into life deep into stoppage time, with Jack Grealish scuttling away, via a touch from Wilfried Zaha, to tear into the penalty area at a backtracking Gary Cahill. The visitors’ captain was stumbling but still shifted the ball to his right as he fell beyond the crumpling defender, his eyes darting to Henri Lansbury at his side as the substitute converted a low shot into the far corner. Villa’s delight would be choked almost immediately. Kevin Friend, subsequently described as “card happy” by a simmering Dean Smith after booking four visiting players in the first half and sending off Trézéguet for a second offence, had blown his whistle for simulation as the substitute connected with his effort. Grealish never appealed for a penalty, for all that two of his teammates did call for the award, but the perceived dive still provoked another flash of yellow and a sense of outrage among players and travelling fans alike.” “The referee considered that Jack Grealish committed an act of simulation in the penalty area, and blew his whistle to stop the game before the ball went into goal. Under the IFAB Protocol the VAR is allowed to review the potential penalty situation. Having reviewed the incident the VAR judged that no ‘Clear and Obvious’ error had occurred and the on-field decision of simulation remained. The VAR was unable to check the ‘goal’ because the whistle went before the ball went into the net.”