Then Bruno Fernandes broke onto the counter and won the record 13th penalty of the season in the United Premier League.
13th lucky, it must be said. His abrupt turn was mesamerican, but it was more the international game of Portugal that rotated in Ezri Konsa’s ankle than any illegal intervention by the defender of the Villa.
A giant howl of “Nooooo!” rang out from the middle of the Villa contingent when referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot.
It could probably have been heard as far as Stockley Park, but there was no sympathy from the VAR who technically decided that a foul had been committed. The successful conversion of the sanction by Fernandes himself was somewhat less in doubt.
Villa had pinned his hopes on Captain Jack Grealish to stage an unplayable performance against the team that had long been tied to signing him at the end of the season – that’s the way football scripts are supposed to work.
