Just as it appeared Burnley had ended their record as the last team in the Premier League not to have gained a point from a losing position, controversy reared its ugly head once more as referee Stuart Attwell awarded the softest of late penalties for Douglas Luiz to convert and so enable Aston Villa to move level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Four minutes of regulation time remained when Aaron Ramsey, the former Villa academy graduate, prepared to clear the ball in his own penalty area. Unbeknown to the Burnley substitute, from over his shoulder appeared Jhon Durán who went to ground via the merest contact. Attwell pointed to the penalty spot and Douglas Luiz, taking as long a time as possible to compose himself and test James Trafford’s nerve, rattled the crossbar with a shot that belatedly crossed the line.
It was so harsh on Burnley who, despite having Sander Berge sent off early in the second half, had twice come from behind to equalise, with Lyle Foster superb even before he made it 2-2. Instead they remain five points off the safety zone as Villa returned to winning ways at home.
After winning a club-record 15 successive top-flight games at home, Villa had wobbled in a draw here against Sheffield United, before letting slip a two-goal lead to lose at Manchester United on Boxing Day, and they were short of their swashbuckling best in this game despite Ollie Watkins celebrating his 28th birthday by setting up first-half goals for the recalled Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey.
Vincent Kompany did not appear in front of the media until 90 minutes after the match as he joked he was regaining his composure in an ice bath. “Unfortunately for you guys I have cooled off a bit now,” the Burnley manager said, managing a chuckle.
“I feel a mixture of immense pride and frustration. As a manager, so many things we can control, things we can improve, and that tomorrow will be my focus. But other things we cannot control. You’ll have to forgive me, right now there are things that are moving beyond my understanding. The ice bath is not enough.”
Kompany ran through a succession of comparable instances that contrasted how Attwell dealt with the two teams, not least when Diego Carlos handled as he contested a last-man race with Foster.
“If you look at the flow of the game, how were similar events handled, there’s a disparity.
“I don’t want to sulk. It’s the first time I’ve gone off on a … it’s not even a rant. The handball is denying a goalscoring opportunity. Nothing – move on, it’s Burnley. These moments I have to reconcile. I’m bamboozled. I’ll go home and my missus will have to hear this as well.”
Unai Emery may have ridden his luck to gain this result but Villa have enjoyed a remarkably successful 2023, winning a club-record 26 games in league and cup. Asked if 2024 can be even better, with Champions League qualification in their sights, the Villa manager played his customary straight bat. “Always the idea is to improve,” he said. “The year we did was really fantastic but I am excited for the next match in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough, and the game after that against Everton.”
Villa almost played with a back three, when in possession, with Bailey on the right flank balancing off Àlex Moreno, in for Lucas Digne at left wing-back. It was from wide on the right that Bailey gave Villa the lead, coming inside on to Watkins’ cross with a great first touch before blasting home into the near top corner.
Burnley, encouraged by their victory at Fulham last time on the road, came out to play at this point, however. Johann Gudmundsson’s superb free-kick was headed across by Dara O’Shea for Zeki Amdouni to volley home. After Foster had an effort called offside, however, Watkins was given onside at the other end as he ran on to Ezri Konsa’s clipped pass and crossed for Diaby to touch home.
Villa turned on the style after Burnley went down to 10 men in the 56th minute, Berge sent off for a petty second yellow card when tugging Douglas Luiz’s shirt. Diaby should have scored three times, and Jacob Ramsey once, as Villa cut some stylish moves – only for Burnley to equalise in the 71st minute.
Trafford went long, Gudmundsson flicked on a header and Foster held off his man to slam in the equaliser at a near post Emiliano Martínez should have protected better.
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Kompany lost his customary composure as he raged at the fourth official at the penalty decision in the 86th minute. The Burnley manager’s emotions boiled over as he contested a handball that was not awarded in his team’s favour as a yellow card was shown to one of his staff. The fates, it seems, are not with Burnley.
