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Man Utd transfer target Jack Grealish furious over Bruno Fernandes contradiction
Aston Villa earned a vital win against Crystal Palace in the battle to beat the drop but Jack Grealish was left angry with the inconsistency of the officials.
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Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has expressed his frustration at VAR after it overturned Martin Atkinson's decision to award him a penalty against Crystal Palace. Luckily it did not matter for the hosts, who ran out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from Egypt international Trezeguet.
It was not the first time that there has been penalty controversy at Villa Park this week, and the stakes are high with Villa desperate to climb out of the bottom three.
On first viewing, it looked like Patrick Van-Aanholt stepped on the foot of Grealish, who threw himself to the floor.
It wasn't until extensive checks from VAR and a change of camera angle that it became apparent that Grealish had actually stepped on the foot of the Crystal Palace full-back.
Villa were seething in midweek when Bruno Fernandes appeared to provoke contact from Ezri Konsa.
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John Moss pointed to the spot and VAR agreed with the decision but it soon became clear that it should have actually been a foul in favour of Aston Villa.
Fernandes scored from the spot and United went on to win the game 3-0 in comfortable fashion.
After today's win, Grealish admitted he did not understand the contradiction from Premier League officials on the two incidents.
"Well I went through. I don't know if I was going to shoot, or pass, or whatever," said Grealish.
"I pulled my foot back and I think I've just kicked him.
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"I'm not too sure whether it was or wasn't a penalty. I'll have to see it back, but I think, you know, the penalty that got given against us in the week with Bruno Fernandes from Man Utd, If that's a penalty then I'm sure it should have been one today."
Grealish could be playing alongside Fernandes next season with Manchester United eyeing the attacking midfielder.
He could be available at a cut-price too this summer if Villa are indeed relegated.
Ahead of United's clash with Southampton tomorrow, Fernandes has taken the chance to protest his innocence in regards to the controversial spot-kick.
"It was a penalty, the referee said it was a penalty," Fernandes told Sky Sports.
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"But I don't know, the contact there is normal. I don't provoke the contact.
"I just moved the ball back, take the first touch and the guy's tried to take the ball.
"His leg stays down with me and I need to go on the ground with my leg, he takes me and I take him you know.
"It was normal contact but for the referee it was a penalty.
"We scored and opened the game there, everybody can have a different opinion."
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