Keith Hackett: Harvey Elliott should have had a penalty in Aston Villa win vs Lille
Keith Hackett believes that Aston Villa star Harvey Elliott should have been given a penalty in the 2-0 Europa League win over Lille.
Elliott went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Berke Ozer in the closing stages of the contest, but referee Davide Massa gave nothing.
Leon Bailey had played the Liverpool loanee through, and it looked like he may add a late third, before the Turkish keeper stopped him from doing so.
Villa did not really appeal it, and it did not appear to be checked by VAR, but Hackett thinks it was a penalty.
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What did Hackett say about Elliott incident?
The former PGMOL chief believes that the Villans should have had the chance to further their lead even more with a late spot kick.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, he said: “The goalkeeper has come out feet first and makes contact with Harvey Elliott, bringing him down.
| Stats | Elliott |
| Pass accuracy | 86% |
| Touches in opposition box | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 1 |
| Minutes played | 6 |
“It’s an easy penalty kick decision.”
Why Emery will not care, but Elliott might?
Unai Emery and his side will likely not care that it was not given, as they have advanced through to the next stage of the competition.
That was the ultimate goal, and nothing else matters, especially an incident late on, when they had already sealed victory.
However, it would have been nice for Elliott on a personal level after a miserable campaign this season, where he has barely featured.
| Competition | Elliott appearances |
| Premier League | 5 |
| Europa League | 3 |
| Carabao Cup | 1 |
Emery has hardly trusted him, and he has played just nine times in all competitions since joining the B6 side.
It would have been a good moment for him, had he been able to win a penalty for the side, but it was not given, and he will have to wait for another potential contribution.
His only goal or assist remains in the Carabao Cup, with his strike in the penalty shootout defeat to Brentford in the third-round, being the only one.
While it does not matter for Villa, Elliott would have probably loved to secure a spot kick for his side, and show the manager that he can make an impact.
Hopefully, Emery decides to use him more in the late stages of the season as he could be a real asset.
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