Aston Vila missed out on Champions League football after controversially being denied a goal in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Goals from Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen decided the game in United’s favour but only after Emiliano Martinez had been sent off and the decision to call a foul against Morgan Rogers before he had put the ball into Altay Bayindir’s net – much to Villa’s fury.
The United goalkeeper, in for Andre Onana, did not appear to have both hands on the ball when Rogers dispossessed him but referee Thomas Bramall had already blown the whistle for a foul before the ball hit the net so VAR was unable to allow the goal to stand.
Clinton Morrison and Mike Dean look at why Aston Villa were not awarded a goal
Unai Emery’s side came into the final day knowing that even a win might not be good enough, but with Newcastle losing to Everton, a draw would have been enough in the end. But Amad’s header and Eriksen’s 87th-minute penalty ended their hopes.
For United, it was a welcome fillip after the disappointment of their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday. This was their first victory over a team that will still be in the Premier League next season since they won at Fulham in January.
But the focus will be on Villa, denied Champions League football next season as a result of this defeat – and a call which left them fuming.
More to follow…
Story of the match in stats…
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
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