Robbie Savage fumes at 'Daftest' Aston Villa controversy as Arsenal comparison made

Robbie Savage described the penalty Tyrone Mings conceded for Aston Villa against Club Brugge as the "daftest" he has ever seen.

The Villa centre-back inexplicably scooped up the ball after Emi Martinez had taken a short goal-kick and a penalty was awarded from which Hans Vanaken scored to secure the hosts a 1-0 win in the Champions League encounter at Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday (6 November).

Former Birmingham City midfielder Savage, writing in the Daily Mirror (pg 59, 9 November), compared it to an incident involving Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes against Bayern Munich last season and was baffled by what he witnessed.

He wrote: "Tyrone Mings gave away a penalty with the daftest handball you'll ever see when Aston Villa lost to Bruges in the Champions League. Handling a goal-kick only two yards outside the six-yard box is still handball.

"It was absolutely right that Bruges were awarded a penalty. Arsenal defender Gabriel got away with a similar offence in the Champions League against Bayern Munich because the referee didn't want to punish a "kid's mistake".

"New England manager Thomas Tuchel, then in charge of Bayern, called it a "horrible, horrible explanation" and a "huge mistake" - and I agree with him. If teams are going to play out from the back, including tippy-tappy goal-kicks, they have to play by the rules like everyone else."

Tyrone Mings counts the cost of Aston Villa error

It is little surprise to see Savage stick the knife into Villa and not many fans will put much credence on what the ex-Birmingham man has to say let's be honest, and nor should they.

Frustratingly, though, he probably is right here no matter how much we'd love to argue against him.

It was a really perplexing moment and for it to happen to Mings, who has not long since returned from a serious knee injury, in a high-profile Champions League game felt particularly cruel in all honesty.

He was left counting the cost of a comedy error as Villa tasted defeat in Europe's premier competition for the first time this season in what was a tricky game.

But Mings is an experienced pro and an England international, he will definitely rebound quickly from this one. Hopefully Villa can end a tough week on a high with victory against Liverpool on Saturday (9 November).

In other Aston Villa news, there is competition from a Premier League rival for a Portuguese target.

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