Aston Villa boss Dean Smith takes swipe at VAR and says he ‘wouldn’t mind a job at Stockley Park’

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has taken a dig at VAR officials after his side were not awarded a penalty during their win over Wolves.

Midway through the first half at Molineux Villa had a huge shout for handball inside the penalty area, however after a VAR review nothing was given.

Jacob Ramsey tried to cut the ball back after a free-kick for Villa in a dangerous area and Romain Saiss appeared to use his arm to block the ball.

Romain Saiss (left) appeared to use his arm to block the ball from a Jacob Ramsey cross

Clearly incensed by the officials not awarding his side a penalty, Smith took a dig and accused the referees of ‘having their slippers on’.

‘He looks like he’s moved his body towards his arm with the ball so it should have been a penalty,’ the Villa boss said after the match.

‘I wouldn’t mind a job at Stockley Park just having their slippers on like they seem to have there. Unfortunately we didn’t get it.’ 

The drama ensued in the Midlands as a late penalty scored by Anwar El Ghazi saw the visitors claim all three points against a struggling Wolves side.

A late penalty scored by Anwar El Ghazi saw the visitors claim all three points at Molineux

Smith expressed his delight after the full-time whistle, as he said: ‘Really pleased, this is a great result to come here and get a clean-sheet. I thought it was a really tight game. 

‘When they had their spells of pressure we were indebted to our keeper who made some good saves.’

He also praised Villa’s stoppage-time hero El Ghazi: ‘He’s got very good technique, we don’t get many penalties unfortunately. If he was on the pitch he’d have taken it if he wasn’t Jack (Grealish) would.

‘It’s been excellent form for us. We know we can go anywhere and compete.’