Dean Smith makes claim about Leeds controversy as he defends Aston Villa decison v Sheff Utd
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is still moaning about Leeds United scoring a goal against his side last season when they had a player down injured.
Mateusz Klich netted a goal after Villa players had stopped playing so that the injured player could receive treatment. But the referee did not stop play and Klich scored a legitimate goal that rightly counted.
Marcelo Bielsa then instructed his players to let Villa score, but Smith failed to do the same on Wednesday night when Sheffield United should have had a goal at Villa Park.
Villa drew 0-0 with the Blades but there was one moment of huge controversy when goalkeeper Orjan Nyland took the ball over his goal line and Hawkeye’s technology failed to flag the goal.
Nyland would have known it crossed the line, as would every single Villa player in the vicinity but they failed to let Sheffield United have the goal.
Smith has been ranting about the moment last season again as he defended his side’s decision to not let the Blades get a goal.
“It was totally different because about five minutes before they scored, they had a player injured and we put the ball out,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“And then, five minutes later, we had a player down injured, our players stopped and they carried on. Their manager, rightly, thought [letting us score] was the right thing to do.
“That was sporting integrity, this is technology – it’s totally different.”
It is different but, at the same time, it’s the same.
Yes, it was a technological fault and it wasn’t Villa’s fault that the Hawkeye technology failed to award Sheffield United the goal.
But, as mentioned, there’s no way that Nyland didn’t realise the ball crossed the line and he should have put his hands up and admitted it went in.
Whatever you believe about the Leeds versus Villa controversy last season, Bielsa put his hands up and admitted his side should not have scored and let Smith’s men get a goal back.
Smith should have asked his players if it went in and made a decision from there but clearly the Villa boss only cares if he’s on the wrong end of a bad call.
In other Leeds United news, this loan star has confirmed he wants to extend his stay at Elland Road.