Sutton blasts ‘crazy’ Mings controversy in Club Brugge v Aston Villa – ‘What is he thinking?’
Chris Sutton blasted Tyrone Mings for the “absolutely crazy” handball that led to Aston Villa conceding a bizarre penalty in their 1-0 Champions League defeat at Club Brugge.
Mings was pinged in the second half when he bent down to put his hand on the ball having not realised that goalkeeper Emi Martinez had already passed it to him from a goalkick.
Referee Tobias Stieler pointed to the spot after a VAR check and Hans Vanaken buried the penalty to give Brugge all three points at the Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday (6 November).
“That’s ridiculous. Emi Martinez has put the ball down to take the kick and passed the ball to Mings, who scoops the ball up with his left hand,” former Villa striker Sutton said on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra (6 November).
“It is crazy from Mings, absolutely crazy. What is he thinking? It’s a brain freeze from Mings. Sheer stupidity.”
Tyrone Mings punished for brainless moment in Club Brugge v Aston Villa
Villa had won each of their three opening games in the league phase of Europe’s premier competition and were absolutely flying heading into the contest in Bruge.
But their 100 per cent record came to a shuddering halt in the most bizarre of circumstances and it feels particularly cruel that it should be Mings, who only recently returned from a long-term knee injury, to have been the one to commit a moment so unthinkably stupid.
Champions League games are difficult enough to win but to concede a penalty in such bizarre circumstances then go on to lose the game is particularly galling.
Boss Unai Emery cut a hugely frustrated figure in the dugout and you have to have sympathy with the Spaniard to see his team lose the game in a manner you just simply cannot legislate for.
Having been hammered by Tottenham in the Premier League last time out and with the prospect of a tricky trip to Liverpool on the horizon, Villa need to click back into gear quickly.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is in the running to be the next Manchester City manager.
For more Aston Villa news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.