Mike Dean reacts to Ezri Konsa red card incident for Aston Villa v Newcastle
Ezri Konsa was given a straight red card in Aston Villa’s opening day clash with Newcastle United.
Unai Emery’s side were drawing 0-0 after a timid first-half display on Saturday in which they failed to threaten and looked defensively vulnerable.
Aston Villa were then dealt a huge blow as Konsa received a straight red card during the second half, after bringing down Anthony Gordon in a last-man challenge.
Villa went down to 10 men for the rest of what was a tepid affair, and former Premier League referee Mike Dean has now given his verdict on the decision to send Konsa off.
Dean gives verdict on Konsa red card
Gordon burst through the Villa defence to put himself one-on-one with debutant goalkeeper Marco Bizot, but before he could push forward and get his shot off, Konsa pulled him down.
- Konsa started at centre-back alongside Tyrone Mings against Newcastle, who started Gordon as a number nine in the absence of Alexander Isak.
- Boubacar Kamara dropped into the back four once Konsa was dismissed, rather than a centre-back replacing him off the bench.
While the foul may have looked soft, Dean told Sky Sports News (August 16, 1:53 pm) that referee Craig Pawson made the correct decision in handing Konsa a straight red card.
“He’s done well Gordon, he’s gotten in front of Konsa, but Konsa put his hand on his shoulder and pulled him down. Once the referee gave a free kick, it was 100 per cent a red card,” Dean stated.
Who could replace Konsa during his suspension?
The Premier League have confirmed that Konsa’s dismissal was for denying Gordon a goalscoring opportunity, and this will lead to a one-match ban as there was no violent conduct.
This will come as a relief to Emery, who will only miss the centre-back for the trip to face Brentford next week, but he will have a decision to make over who replaces him.
Pau Torres is the most senior centre-back available in his absence, but is more naturally suited to the left side, meaning that Emery may again choose to drop Kamara from midfield into defence.
With his side also short of midfield options, it remains to be seen whether causing such disruption is better than using Torres, but either way, Villa will hope that this red card does not cost them further.
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