Mike Dean reacts to Aston Villa v Bournemouth controversy, Sky Sports studio in stitches
Mike Dean had the Sky Sports studio laughing after sharing his thoughts as Aston Villa saw a goal disallowed versus Bournemouth on Saturday (26 October).
John McGinn thought he had given the Villans the lead at Villa Park, firing home after good work from Ollie Watkins, but a lengthy VAR check eventually chalked the goal off after the ball appeared to drift out of play.
No one in the Sky Sports studio was absolutely certain about the decision, with fans frustrated by the fine margins, and Dean was not much surer after watching replays of the incident.
Describing the moment live on Sky Sports [26 October, 3:29pm], Tim Sherwood said: “Ramsey cuts it across to Watkins, but he can’t reach it and it looks like the ball runs out of play. Bournemouth completely stop. It’s very tight.
“Watkins recycles the ball and gives it to McGinn who sticks it in the corner. Travers is going mad at the referee, but as it stands, it’s 1-0.”
Being asked for his thoughts on the incident, the former referee said: “For me, all of the ball hasn’t gone out of play. It’s very, very tight. I wouldn’t want to be at Stockley Park.
“I think I’d just have stepped out to boil the kettle,” which saw the rest of the studio burst into laughter.
Aston Villa controversial moment emerges in draw v Bournemouth
It was an impossible call to make in real-time, and even with the VAR review, there is still a split opinion over whether Villa’s goal should have been ruled out.
Bournemouth were clearly adamant that the ball had drifted out of play, with all players stopping with their arms in the air, but Villa should have shown no mercy if the goal were to be given.
One of the first rules taught in football is to play until you hear the whistle, but should McGinn’s goal have stood, it would have been an extremely controversial topic at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side certainly had multiple other chances to take the lead but the early goal would have settled some of the nerves at home, with the Cherries very capable of counterattacking.
The manager will have been delighted with his team for playing on, even despite the calls for play to be stopped, and they were only denied by millimetres after taking a chance.
In other Aston Villa news, the Villans sent scouts to watch Nathan Zeze as a new Nantes exit update emerges.
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