Aston Villa v Cardiff City Exclusive: Player lucky to escape action after what he did
Aston Villa saw off Cardiff City 2-0 in Saturday’s FA Cup last-16 tie at Villa Park, where one player was fortunate to escape action.
Marco Asensio scored twice to send Villa through, maintaining what has been a superb start to life in the Midlands for the PSG loanee.
Villa never really managed to get out of second gear on home soil against their second-tier opponents, but it was a case of job done as a place in the quarter-finals awaits.
Keith Hackett comments on contentious Villa Park moment
Villa particularly struggled to get going in a goalless first half, in which Cardiff thought they should have been awarded a penalty.
Against the run of play, Cardiff defender Perry NG went to ground after being caught by the boot of Lamare Bogarde.
Referee Peter Bankes did not point to the spot, though, and former FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes that was the correct decision.
Indeed, Hackett believes Ng was fortunate to avoid being cautioned by referee Bankes for trying to con him into awarding a spot-kick for the visiting side.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Hackett said: “The exaggerated fall by the Cardiff City player trying to deceive the referee really should have been met with a yellow card for simulation.
“[Ng] tried to deceive the referee. The decision to not award a penalty kick was the correct one.”
Aston Villa through to FA Cup quarter-finals
NG may have been caught slightly by Bogarde, but there was nowhere near enough contact to justify the Cardiff player going to ground, especially as theatrically as he did.
Villa found a way thanks to a couple of well-taken Asensio goals and are in the hat for the quarter-final draw, which takes place on Sunday (2 March).
Unai Emery’s men can now rest up ahead of Tuesday’s (4 March) huge Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Club Brugge – a side Villa lost to during the league phase.
And after seeing off a stubborn Cardiff side, the Villans are still left fighting on three fronts with a little under three months of the campaign to go.