ASTON VILLA vs WEST HAM UNITED - Neill’s unlikely hat-trick

Saturday 6th October 2007

Lucas Neill walked away from Villa Park probably feeling not too pleased with a 0-1 defeat. However, the West Ham United defender should have been thanking his lucky stars having avoided an unlikely hat-trick. The visitors have good reason to feel aggrieved in as far as the only goal of the game should not have been given. Craig Gardner scored from a splendid free kick but the free-kick should not have been awarded. Gabby Agbonlahor was backing into Danny Gabbidon. When the Hammers centre-back lost his footing, inevitably, both players fell to the ground. By then, Villa should already have been one up though as Neill brought down flying winger Ashley Young in the area. To be fair, the Londoners should have been back on level terms with a penalty when Zat Knight held then hauled down Carlton Cole. Somerset ref Steve Tanner appeared to be determined not to give a penalty as Neill then clearly pushed Agbonlahor to deny the Villa forward any chance of reaching a dangerous cross. Neill completed his hat-trick of unpenalised penalty offences when he handled Young’s cross. Despite their claims of injustice, the afternoon should have been a whole lot worse for West Ham.

The Right Result is a 3-1 win for Aston Villa.

Entry Filed under: Latest Incidents

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