Bruce expects FA to discipline Brentford’s Maupay after apparent stamp

Posted Thursday, August 23, 2018 by PA

Frustrated Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce expects the Football Association to discipline Brentford goalscorer Neal Maupay after he avoided a red card to almost claim a famous win.

Jonathan Kodjia’s injury-time header rescued a deserved 2-2 draw for the hosts after Maupay’s brace looked like giving the Bees their first-ever victory at Villa.

It was Kodjia’s second of the game but Bruce was angry Maupay was on the pitch to grab his second after an apparent first-half stamp on John McGinn went unpunished by referee Jon Moss.

Bruce said: “It (losing) would have been unjust. The disappointing thing for me was the boy stamped on John and he scored two.

“It’s disappointing when he scored twice but I am sure they (the FA) will look at it.

“The last thing I want to see is red cards but what you don’t want to see is the boy stamping on anyone.”

But Brentford boss Dean Smith believes Mile Jedinak also deserved to be punished.

He said: “If you remember the incident, Mile Jedniak fell over, got up and then smashed Neal in the back of the head so if they are looking at retrospective for Neal then we’ll do so for Jedinak.”

Everton’s Yannick Bolasie was also in the stands to watch ahead of completing a loan switch to Villa, with the club having signed Lille winger Anwar El Ghazi on loan before the game.

Bruce, who has Villa fifth in the Sky Bet Championship, added: “We hope we can tie it up tomorrow. The one thing we haven’t got – with the injuries to Davis, O’Hare, and Hogan, is anything up the top end of the pitch if we need to change things.”

Villa dominated for long spells with Brentford goalkeeper Daniel Bentley saving from Jack Grealish and Jonathan Kodjia.

But Maupay finished a sweeping move midway through the first half to give Brentford the lead.

Kodjia levelled before the break but Maupay looked to have won it when he prodded in with eight minutes left.

Said Benrahma almost added a third but Kodjia headed in Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross to deny Brentford, who sit fourth in the table.

Smith added: “I would have taken a point at half-time, we weren’t very good in the first half but we looked the more likely as the game went on. We missed big chances at 2-1 to put the game to bed.

“The start has been very good, it could have been excellent.”