Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Wednesday December 26 2007
Time: 10:06PM
UK time is: 17:54:02
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Villa To Consider Knight Appeal
Villa were leading Chelski 2-0 before Phil Dowd stepped in to remind the world he was not important during todays match.
Speaking to the official site, Martin O'Neill said:
'You can appeal the red card and I'm seriously thinking about it, because I'm not overly happy with the decision.
'There wasn't one decision we got. If we get the next 15 it will only semi make up for it.
'We were playing brilliantly. We deserved to be 2-0 in front but the penalty was really dubious and it's a major point in the game.
'Suddenly it's 2-1, we've got a man sent off and play the whole of the second half with 10 men.
'It was never a freekick (prior to Ballack's goal). Amazingly, I thought the referee might give it but never in a month of Sundays was it a freekick and they scored from it.'
I don't think the managers can be any clearer - has their been a game in Phil Dowd's dowdy career that hasn't left people thinking he's more interested in stealing the limelight than actually doing his job?
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Your Comments
Might as well appeal, nothing to lose...although how many appeals actually have been won....i can't remember any....i can't believe the poll scores at the moment.....2% for Knight and 58% for Maloney !!! both were only on the pitch for 45 mins....2 goals in 45 mins does not make you motm..... in my opinion after todays heriocs from the team they were all motm winners...particulary the 10 men in the 2nd half...
imavillan
Even if it was a penalty (and that's a mighty big if), the sending off was extremely harsh. Ballack knew what he wanted, contact was absolutely minimal. Twas a dive, says I.
glensider
Went down like he had been shot , Not much point in appeal they will always support the ref.
It was a dive but nothing that Ashley Young hasn't tried several times this season .
Villan57
No point appealing, it was clearly a penalty and Zat was clearly the last defender. If the useless Dowd hadn't sent him off, he'd have been in hot water with the people who check refs. He was, as they showed on Match of the Day, perfectly placed to judge the pen. Hate to take off my claret and blue tinted specs but it was a pen. Their free kick should never have been given though!
The Fear
How come an incident where Ballack Elbows Barry in the face is not shown on MOTD? He clearly intended to hurt Barry and Ballack should have walked, the referee did not spot it but the TV replayed the incident several times - Video Evidence anybody?
KSarge1
Agreed KSarge1. Ballack hadn't long been on when the incident happened. Blatant elbow into GB's face. It was clearly evident from our seats in The Shed, so how did Dowd and his assistants miss it?
glensider
totally agree, video evidence would be good, forget who was talking about it the other day but they were suggesting video evidence should be able to up a yellow to a red where appropriate. Why not, might be a way of stamping out the cheats in the game, give 5 match suspensions for dives etc?!
The Fear
I think you would be right challenging this decision but don't hold your breath about it being rescinded. Also wanted to congratulate you guys on one hell of a performance yesterday. Brilliant match and the least you deserved was a point! Well done the Villains.
roversman
I have to say that the refereeing performance yesterday was probably the most inconsistant I have ever witnessed from a Premier League referee - and there have been a few.
KSarge1
when does an appeal ever succeed? Referees are rarely confirmed, by the authorities, as being in the wrong! Anyone fancy signing the "Cole was Hard Done By" petition :-)
merlin
I doubt it will get recinded , the FA dont like to admit that their referees are inadequate. Besides i'd rather have Cahill or Davies in there now, give them some match practice, Knight just is clumsy and keeps falling asleep on the pitch
krisvilla
How can Shaun Maloney be leading MON award? did you see the game? He was average, Young, Bouma and NRC were the best players on the pitch by a long way!
KSarge1
ballack dived well before zat got anywhere near him for the pen,dont think there was any contact what so ever,ballack just conned the pathetic ref.just watched it around ten times on my sky plus in slow motion and still cannot see any contact,zat just leaned towards him and ballack thought like the cheating **** he is o i will go down here and get a pen.anyone who is saying that was a pen is completley and utterly wrong if they were to look at it properly.also amazingly barry got the free kick given against him for when ballack blatantly elbowed him and shouldve been sent off! joke referee,denied us all 3 points. UTV
Belfast Villain
Clear penalty, sending off a bit harsh I thought. It was well and truly balanced out in the 2nd Half.
tjay
Amazing how ANOTHER London club player has got away with a clear ELBOW to the face of Barry. Ballack should definately be suspended by Video evidence, but will anything come from it? If this was any team outside of the TOP 4 or Outside of London I can say for definate that action would be taken against the player - Ballack is an absolute disgrace to the game of football and all it stands for.
KSarge1
It seems that everybody agrees. It may have been, possibly, but not definitely maybe potentially a penalty. Even with the benefit of multi angle slow motion replays it is inconclusive. Did Ballack 'earn' the penalty, was it a blatant push or was it a dive? Should it have been a sending off or had Carson got the ball so therefore preventing a goal scoring opportunity? It seems that despite all the technology there is still disagreement. On that basis I would expect the FA to uphold the refs decision. He only had the one view of it, he had the crowd and all the players on his back and you can see why the decision was made. That said, the offence if it is upheld only means a one game ban (I believe). It is violent conduct or dangerous play that automatically gets a 3 game ban. His challenge was neither. I would put money on the FA backing the ref and Knight getting a 1 match ban.
voiceoftheholte
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