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Dean Smith showed a frustrated figure during his post-match press conference despite his team struggling to the bitter end against Manchester United.
Villa’s efforts in the second half weren’t enough as they fell 2-1 to Manchester United, with Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes scoring on either side of Bertrand Traore’s equalizer.
However, it was Fernandes’ penalty that was most controversial, as referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty for an apparent slip by Douglas Luiz over Paul Pogba at the hour mark.
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After a VAR control, the original decision stood with Fernandes saving his match-winning penalty, much to Smith’s chagrin after seeing the decision in the locker room after the final whistle.
Here’s Smith’s transcript after Villa’s first loss in six games over the holiday period, which is just his second setback on the road in eight games.
Smith talks about Villa’s sloppy start, the penalty penalty, the latest from Ross Barkley in terms of fitness, the transfer window, and why he chose Tyrone Mings:
FRUSTRATION THERE WAS ONLY ONE Pity BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES TODAY …
“Yes. I was very disappointed with our performance in the first half. I didn’t think we were anywhere near our levels that we were at. I thought most teams started slow within the first 10 minutes and had a testimony feeling. They injected the tempo they needed and deservedly scored a goal at halftime.
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“I had to join them at halftime and talk to them about the levels we needed to be at. The second half was a much better performance of ourselves. We got a good goal, we created very good opportunities but unfortunately we lost. “. to a doubtful penalty. “
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT PENALTY …
“I have sympathy for Michael (Oliver). It looked like a penalty from where he was standing. I thought Douglas Luiz was too tight against Paul Pogba and it seemed like when he turned around he knocked him down. I felt like it was a penalty in time but go to the locker room afterwards and seeing him again is very, very doubtful.
“It seems like (Pogba) stumbles. There is very, very minimal contact and, if that is the case and there is so much doubt, then the idea of the VAR is to send the referee (to the monitor) to have a look at himself.
“I’m a little dumbfounded why he didn’t take a look at it.”
THE TRANSFER WINDOW IS OPEN, WILL YOU BE ADDED TO THE GROUP TO MAKE A PUSH?
“I think our streak of matches we just had and performances shows that we have enough strength in this team. We have Ross Barkley, Trezeguet and Wesley to come back. Tom Heaton is back now. We have a number of returning players and there certainly are. depth within the team, but we are never going to deal with any good business that may come our way. We will always be watching. “
ROSS BARKLEY CLOSE TO MAKING THIS GAME? WHAT IS YOUR SITUATION?
“He wasn’t close to making the game. He hasn’t had enough minutes in training camp, but I hope he’s ready for our next Premier League game (Spurs, January 13). I’m not sure if ” in the FA Cup game (against Liverpool next week). He needs more minutes on training ground. “
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO SQUAD IN JANUARY?
“We think we have a good squad. We have four or five players coming back from injury, which will be a huge boost for us in January with the number of games we have (six more this month). We are always looking for good opportunities. value, but they must be there for us to do. “
EXPLAIN THE THOUGHT TO BRING TYRONE MINGS BACK HOME …
“It was a tough decision. Kortney had played the last four games and we had only conceded one goal. We had very good performances from him. But if Tyrone hadn’t been sent off against Crystal Palace he probably would have been resting Kortney for the Chelsea game, so it was his physical condition.
“He has shown me and everyone that his fitness levels are on par with the performances he has put in against Burnley, Palace and Chelsea. He had a big decision to make (against Man United) and I felt like Tyrone would be much cooler. And it could be one to refresh the team. It was really hard for Kortney to get Tyrone in because he did so well. Tyrone did well for us.
PLAYER FEEDBACK HALF THE TIME AFTER DRESSING UP?
“There were none because I didn’t really allow them any comment to be honest because I was not happy. I told them that if they wanted to perform under the lights of Liverpool, City and Man United then our levels must improve because they weren’t good enough in the first one. half “.
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