Villa boss Martin O’Neill branded Michael Ballack a diver as he prepared to appeal against  Zat Knight’s sending off after the Boxing Day thriller against Chelsea.

O’Neill was incensed at referee Phil Dowd’s decision to award Chelsea a penalty in yesterday’s amazing 4-4 draw, which saw Knight one of three players sent off.

Knight faces a three-match ban if the decision is upheld.

“It wasn’t a penalty. I’ve seen it a couple of times and I think the player dived,” said O’Neill. 

“He went over. There was no contact. I was a distance way but I was armed with a couple of replays and on the strength of it, I’d appeal it.

“That’s my view. I’m only three and a half per cent biased but it wasn’t a penalty.”

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

Villa boss Martin O’Neill branded Michael Ballack a diver as he prepared to appeal against  Zat Knight’s sending off after the Boxing Day thriller against Chelsea.

O’Neill was incensed at referee Phil Dowd’s decision to award Chelsea a penalty in yesterday’s amazing 4-4 draw, which saw Knight one of three players sent off.

Knight faces a three-match ban if the decision is upheld.

“It wasn’t a penalty. I’ve seen it a couple of times and I think the player dived,” said O’Neill. 

“He went over. There was no contact. I was a distance way but I was armed with a couple of replays and on the strength of it, I’d appeal it.

“That’s my view. I’m only three and a half per cent biased but it wasn’t a penalty.”

Ballack disputed claims he dived, saying: “For me there is no discussion about this. 

“I had the ball and two guys, not just one, came and one pushed me. It was a clear penalty.”

Villa had until noon today to lodge an appeal. O’Neill said: “There was a major moment in the game with the (Knight) sending off and I’m aware I have the TV replays to show it.

“But I thought it was very harsh. It’s something I’ll look at.”

Defensive team-mate Martin Laursen sympathised with Knight, saying: “He’s obviously disappointed, because he’s facing a three-match ban.

“But maybe we will appeal the decision and then we’ll see.”

Captain Gareth Barry scored the last-gasp penalty to earn Villa the draw and revealed how he kept his nerve after the kick was delayed.

“I just had to keep focused as I waited to take the penalty and I only had the back of the net in my mind – I put the ball exactly where I wanted to, so I was happy with that,” he said.

“I knew it would probably be the last kick of the game and would decide whether we got a point or not.

“But I just kept focused and I was delighted for the lads to earn a point from a game when we’d played so well.”