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Unai Emery slams VAR with Aston Villa denied ‘clear penalty’ in defeat to Nottingham Forest

Unai Emery slams VAR with Aston Villa denied a ‘clear penalty’ in their 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

Morgan Rogers was brought down by Elliot Anderson in the first half. But despite the clear foul in Emery’s view, referee Sam Barrott chose not award a penalty, and VAR official John Brooks didn’t intervene.

This decision was particularly frustrating for Emery, as he noted it was a significant error by VAR. Emery’s frustration was evident in his post-match comments where he stated, “It’s a clear penalty. It’s a massive mistake from the VAR. Today the VAR is a big mistake because it was clear, he (Rogers) had an advantage.”

This incident has reignited discussions around the consistency and accuracy of VAR decisions in football matches.

The Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Anderson on Rogers was checked and confirmed by the VAR.”

“I told in the interview with the TV that I didn’t watch the penalty (Rogers incident), but after I watch it, it is a clear penalty,” Emery said in his post-match press conference. “It is a mistake by VAR. It is a big mistake. This is clearly a penalty.

“I respect the referees and the VAR. We watched it after. Damian (Vidagany) showed me and it’s a penalty. Clear penalty. Where is the VAR? OK it happens.”

Forest climb up to fourth in the Premier League table after stunning late comeback win over Aston Villa; Anthony Elanga netted 93rd-minute winner after Nikola Milenkovic had levelled the score in 87th minute.

Jhon Duran meanwhile put Villa ahead in 63rd minute just moments after a stunning save from Emiliano Martinez.

Chris Wood was denied his 11th goal of the season with Anthony Elanga being called offside by VAR.

Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports: “We played 90 minutes more or less as we planned. In the first 70 minutes, we were controlling and kept the ball possession. Nottingham Forest are very aggressive in attack. We lost the control completely in the final 20 minutes because they started pushing more and made some changes.

“We had to be consistent with the ball. We had to keep the possession and should have tried to attack and score the second goal.

“But of course it is a process. We are in a process. We will analyse the first 70 minutes and also the last 20 minutes and where we have improve the team is very clear to me.”

On the Morgan Rogers penalty incident: “I can’t tell something about the referee and the penalty. It’s again how we played and how we continue doing the process. It’s a tough match and they are now ahead of us. They have 28 points. It was a very good test against a team comfortable and strong. They deserved in the last 20 minutes to come back and get the result.”

On Jhon Duran: “I prefer to change. It’s good for him and the team. We need to be defensively strong and we have to add individual skills and performances to get goals like he did.”

Unai Emery speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We played in the gameplan and did fantastic in the first 70 minutes and scored one goal. We were trying to stop them in the high press but they are not pushing up and we are more or less doing this in the beginning. When we scored they pushed more and made changes. We tried to be consistent and then we did not do that in the last 20 minutes and we conceded the goals – one offside – but if we do that we won’t be in the top eight.

“We are in the process of building the team and we are trying to be competitive and consistent. Today was a key moment because we are going to fight with them for the opportunity to be in the top eight. Today they got advantage and it is our challenge.

On the battle between Watkins and Duran: “Yes it is perfect.”

Aston Villa defender Matty Cash speaking to Sky Sports: “We are really disappointed. We always knew it was a tough place to come. The first 60 minutes we did well but maybe we lost a bit of control in the last 30 minutes. We are really disappointed at the end.

“It is tough. You have to come to places like this and be strong and try and get three points. We didn’t do enough to get that but we pick ourselves up and go again next week.

“Everyone is important. We have built a good team bond here and we have a string squad with a fantastic manager. The challenge is to finish as high up as we can. We will go again and look to bounce back.”

Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I was not calm. I was nervous as hell. I try to focus on the game and the best help I can do for the team is to ignore what is going on on the outside.

“The ending was amazing – the belief and the desire. It was very equal in the first half. It was well-organised from both teams. There weren’t too many flaws. We created problems and they did too from set-pieces. Then we had a big moment and we conceded.

“But the reaction of the players was amazing. The moment the VAR took the goal out of us, instead of it putting us down, it gave us the belief that we can go on and do it. After that, it was amazing. We were running all over the place. It was entertaining for sure but stressful also.

“It goes beyond football. It’s not football anymore. It’s about belief. It’s about bouncing back from a hard moment and go again when you are not full of energy but you have the heart. Thinking back to Anthony Elanga coming off the bench, it’s also about the players realise that they don’t start but they can give a hand in the right moments. As long as we can understand that, we can compete very well.”

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Sky Sports: “It is a big moment. It is a huge moment. After the team went down the reaction was good. VAR overturned the game and we thought it was game ovr. This match was inciedble. The players give everything and had a deseire to go beyond football.

“The fans were a big part in the game today. They helped the team and it goes beyond football, moments like this. It is about the heart and desire of the boys.

“We try and try every day to build something nice that we can identify with the club, the city. It is an important moment that we feel when things go against you and you react, that is what I appreciate the most. We played against a very good team. The first time was very tactical. After the goal the game opened up and the spaces were there. You want to take control one side of the pitch and the balance was not there every time. I saw fantastic runs in the back. It pleases me and huge credit to them. I gave them another day off! It is easier to work on good results.

“I think it is about enjoying. We are working very hard. We are working with clear plans of improvement and build the team. We are competing with all the clubs. Our way is about organisation and belief. It is about taking advantage of the moment we have and the boys did well today.”

Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga speaking to Premier League Productions: “We have been playing good football and all credit to the manager and the rest of staff as well as the players for buying into the way the manager wants us to play and how he wants us to set up in the game.”

“The season is very, very long and we want to take it game by game and enjoy the journey.

“Villa had a good spell in the first half and we wanted to change some things in the second. We did that. To come and make a difference is something you want to do. I want to play every game but it is credit to those who have started who have done a fantastic job.”

On his first goal since February: “I am my own biggest critique. I haven’t scored in a while and I owe myself a big apology as well as the team. Even though the team has played really well, I felt I could contribute more. I know I am a good finisher. I need to keep going.”

Elanga speaking to Sky Sports: “I feel like this season for me I can do better. I am a good finisher and I need to get in the positions. The team did really well today and credit to Villa, it was a good game.

“As a football player, you want to play every game and when you don’t, you want to make an impact. It was hard to break them down and we had that space in behind.

“We work on in training the different types of movements and looking at it now, it is a good finish. Credit to Martinez. I think he had a great game and made that great save, but we got past him in the end.

“I feel like I can improve in everything. I can get faster and stronger and I am not a finished article and the gaffer always wants me to get better. I just want to be a better player. I am my own biggest critic ahead of other people. I just have to keep working hard and keep producing.”

On Forest being in the top four: “It is incredible and long may that continue. The season is really long and I just want the fans to enjoy the journey.”

Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I am so happy because of the goal, but more happy because of this win and the way we won this game.

“We stayed in the match every minute, even when we conceded the goal. We showed our ambition to win the game. Of course without our fans, we cannot do it. We are so happy and we keep going.

“The atmosphere here is so special. Without our fans, we cannot do it. We have to keep our feet on the ground and have the same ambition to win more games.

“When we conceded the goal, we felt that we have goals in us. We just kept pushing and finally, the result is what we wanted.”

On being fourth on the table: “As I said, we need to keep this ambition. We need to keep this mentality and this team spirit. We need to have our feet on the ground and improve minute by minute and training after training to focus on the next game.”

Twitter users reacted as Unai Emery slams VAR with Aston Villa denied a ‘clear penalty’ in defeat to Nottingham Forest…

@NickGuise1: Probably was a penalty, but Rogers 10 seconds before was pulling Anderson’s shirt off for framing. 🤔 #NFFC

@ClewesM: You have no right to complain. Your club voted to keep VAR.

@UpTheVilla_AVFC: It should have been a penalty to us and it was a foul on Cash for their 2nd but Forest overall deserved the win. They had more fight and wanted it more. Martinez made some world class saves, how many did Sels have to make? Just saying 🤷🏼‍♂️

@Downzee12: He never blames the officials always shuts that down but for him to come out and say that you know it was an awful decision

@b_z_p1: No more Mr nice Unai. Tell them.

@bcvillian1: First time I can actually remember him moaning about a decision

@DaveHo1mes: If you ignore Rogers fouling Anderson to get into the box then yes Anderson fouls Rogers for a penalty. The officials managed to get to the right decision by getting both of the decisions wrong…

@EllisDennantAV: Never hear this man slate officials, but he has every right to. A clear penalty denied on Rogers and while we’re on it, Cash got assaulted in the build up to their goal.

@MarkHitchen100: Absolute shit show from the referee and VAR 😡😡

@catrinavfc: HE’S FINALLY CALLING THEM OUT 😭❤️😭❤️

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