Hull 0-1 Villa – Hull contest the major decisions (including highlights video)

December 31, 2008 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Reports 

0pic43Phil Brown was left fuming with referee Steve Bennett last night after two game changing decisions went against the Tigers and allowed Villa to walk out of the KC Stadium with all the points. On another night they could’ve both gone their way and Hull could’ve won the game 2-1, but thats football, and unless they bring in the hotly debated, controversial video replays its not going to change.

The two decisions in question are the goal in the opening minutes, when Brad Friedel spilled the ball under pressure from Nick Barmby (what a clash of old gits!) and NRC turned it into our net and the penalty that Bennett awarded Hull in the dying seconds but then overturned his own decision.

Big decisions

The pressure referees are placed under has been a big topic of debate for a while now, seeing the introduction of the the Respect The Ref campaign, to try and get both players and fans off the refs backs. For me, this is just another part of the nation of pussies we are going to end up with in this country as every aspect of life gets bubble wrapped. For decades, refs have put up with players arguing with them and fans referring to them as enjoyers-of-the-solo-road-to-sexual-pleasure (”The referee’s a wanker” for the slow to catch on) and questioning whether the ref should’ve gone to Specsavers. But nowadays things like this are taken more seriously and there are less refs coming through because they are ’scared’ of the stick.

So last night’s two big decisions have seen the sports press get very involved in this one, many a reader’s / viewer’s poll being set up to see what the public think of it.

As a Villa fan, I am obviously delighted that the ref changed his mind on the penalty and as a fan of fair play I am also delighted too, as it clearly wasn’t a penalty. The ball bounced off the bar and not Ashley Young’s hand, though MON should ask him why on earth he had his hand up there so close to the ball, in the box, in the last minute. It was a huge let off for Villa. Had the ball been a few inches lower it would’ve hit his hand, seeing Young sent off, banned for a few games and a penalty awarded. Big let off, but correct decision.

The other decision was Hull’s goal in the opening minutes being disallowed for a foul on Friedel. Although this was probably harsh on Hull, Barmby knows full well that refs will give the slightest infringement on a goalie, especially after the Cech tragedy. Fair enough, I think that things are pampered and bubble wrapped at times, but when it saves goalies from near death experiences, my conscience tells me to side with the ‘pussies’. So I’m going to agree with that decision too (how strange that a Villa fan agreed with both the decisions that went our way!).

The game

Anyway, enough chatter about the incidents, what about the game itself? Did Villa deserve the win? Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. Did Hull deserve something from it? Maybe. Villa didn’t play well, much like the West Ham away win, and an own goal was all that split the sides, again like the West Ham victory. But we ground out a goal and didn’t concede and sometimes that is how you win games away from home.

For me, Hull proved last night that they are out of their depth in the top half of the Prem, but they also proved that they are good enough to stay up. Phil Brown’s boys gave their all against us, closing us down very quickly and not allowing us to play our own game. Villa were forced to grind out a result instead of dominating the game, which came as a surprise to the players. Our back line found themselves getting dispossed or pressured into clearances, when we expected to be knocking it around and carving a way through.

Ashley Young was golden as ever and got yet another assist to his tally, which is the highest in the whole Premier League. Its no wonder Real Madrid want him, it just amazes me how long it took Fabio Capello to realise it his talent. Capello preferred Downing over Young for a long time, leaving me pretty disillusioned to the England manager’s ability to see talent, without needing The Sun to point it out to him! Hopefully Young will want to stay with us though, as we are top four and just 7 points off the leaders, whereas Madrid are 5th and 12 points off top. Does that mean we’ll be playing Champions League next year and they won’t? Well, lets not get carried away just yet.

Highlights

Miss the game last night? Go to the match and want to see those incidents in slo-mo? Or just fancy seeing the highlights again? Watch away.


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