Aston Villa were disappointed to come away from Portman Road with only a point after a difficult test against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The Villains were unable to grab their first clean sheet of the Premier League season as Liam Delap opened the scoring early into the match.
Unai Emery’s side managed to turn it around before the break as Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both grabbed goals to take the lead.
Aston Villa struggled in the second half as Ipswich put on the pressure, which eventually told through a second goal for Delap.
The hosts may have been slightly fortunate before the strike though, following some refereeing controversy.
- READ MORE: Alan Smith claims Aston Villa have one player who is “world-class” after huge moment against Ipswich
Sam Morsy fortunate to avoid red card in Ipswich Town vs Aston Villa
In a game full of bite, Villa will feel aggrieved to not see Ipswich reduced to ten men during the clash on Sunday.
The captain of the hosts continually fouled players during the game and picked up a booking before making a few other challenges that were punished by Stuart Atwell but didn’t result in a second yellow.
Then came a poor tackle on Jaden Philogene, where Morsy went over the ball and onto the foot of the Aston Villa winger.
Atwell blew for a foul but didn’t show a second yellow to the Egyptian international, rather bemusingly to most who saw it.
The view from the panellists on the Sky Sports desk was that it should’ve resulted in a sending-off for the midfielder.
Jamie Redknapp started by saying: “Look that’s not a great challenge, you know what you’re doing hitting the back of the foot and this one here he goes over the ball.
“It’s an accumulation after doing that one, you cannot afford to make that challenge. It’s definitely a second yellow, I can see why they were so upset Aston Villa, I think he [Morsy] is very lucky.”
That’s something former player star Ashley Young agreed with, saying: “He’s treading a thin line there and I think Kieran McKenna is pretty worried on the sideline.”
Referee decision could have changed Aston Villa fortunes
The decision from match official Atwell came as a crucial flashpoint for Aston Villa, which saw the concede shortly after.
Had Morsy received a red card, then perhaps the game would have changed in favour of the Villains, who instead have to settle for a point.
It’s not an ideal start to a crucial week for Emery and his players, who have the task of Bayern Munich in the Champions League before taking on Manchester United back in the Premier League.
The Aston Villa manager may need a bit more luck from the officials over the next week if they are to get some important points.
