Defender brands Elliott Anderson challenge 'dangerous' as Aston Villa vent fury

Ezri Konsa claims Elliott Anderson was guilty of a “dangerous” tackle on Ollie Watkins as the controversy over Villa’s Europa League defeat to Nottingham Forest rumbles on.

The defender joined Villa boss Unai Emery in condemning the officials for failing to send Anderson off for the challenge during the first half of Thursday’s semi-final first leg tie.

Emery accused VAR of making a “huge, huge mistake” by not taking retrospective action after referee Joao Pinheiro did not even deem the incident worthy of a foul.

Konsa agreed, explaining: “On the pitch, at the time, I didn’t see it.

“But looking back at it after the game, it is a dangerous tackle. I don’t think they took time to get it on VAR.

“But you know how football goes these days. Sometimes they miss these things.”

A furious Emery claimed the challenge risked breaking Watkins’ ankle and Villa officials were left bewildered by the failure of the VAR to act.

Video assistant Tiago Martins did later intervene to award Forest a penalty after Villa defender Lucas Digne handled the ball.

The on-field assistant had initially ruled the ball had run out of play. Chris Wood converted the resulting penalty for the only goal of the night.

Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, later posted on social media: “If VAR called the referee for the penalty, why they didn’t check at least the red card for Anderson?

“Huge mistake of VAR referee tonight, it did not help the field ref. I am sure Uefa refereeing people would be agree with us in this unfair situation.”

Despite frustration at the officials, Konsa is confident Villa can overturn the one-goal deficit in next week’s home second leg.

He said: “There is a bit of frustration in the dressing room but also belief.

“We have been in this situation before, last season. We back ourselves. A 1-0 loss is not the end of the world.

“We have to take it back home to Villa Park next week and believe. We have our fans behind us at home and I am sure they will motivate us and we will be fine.

“We know how it is at Villa Park when the fans are behind us at Villa Park, how loud it can be and how intimidating it can be for the opposition.

“We know they are going to be loud and be behind us for 90 minutes.”