Dean Smith was interviewed by Sky Sports after his Aston Villa side’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The deciding goal was a spot kick from 12 yards that Bruno Fernandes managed to convert but it’s the awarding of the penalty that the Villa boss is upset about. Paul Pogba seemed to go down after a challenge from Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz but only closer inspection it looks as if the French midfielder possibly tripped himself up.
Dean Smith is upset in the way that the Video Assistant Referee handled the situation and that he didn’t ask for referee Michael Oliver to go over to the screen and make the decision for himself. Do you think the penalty should have been awarded to Manchester United or has VAR and Michael Oliver got this decision wrong?
🗣 "Pogba's tripped himself up"
Dean Smith is not happy with the penalty that was awarded to Manchester United pic.twitter.com/a6zhVBBC7U
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 1, 2021
Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports
This win takes Manchester United tied on points with Liverpool at the top of the table but the loss will leave Aston Villa in 6th place, 7 points behind the leaders Liverpool. Would you consider Villa’s season so far a success?