Controversy over goals took gloss off our Sunderland win - Martin O'Neill

Jan 24 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill has admitted to being frustrated that the gloss from Villa’s fifth straight away win at Sunderland was taken away by the fuss surrounding a dodgy goal and penalty.

“My frustration was that I did not even know there was a doubt (about the goals) at the end of the game,” he said.

“The only incident I wanted to see again was Ashley Young’s on our monitor which I realise was a sending off offence in this day and age.

“Then I was then hit with all sorts of questions about whether it was a goal or a penalty – that was the frustration.”

The Villa boss says that had James Milner not scored then the script may well have been re-written and Ashley Young may well have remained on the pitch.

“We fought back from 1-0 down, we had won the game with ten players and I did not realise at the time (about the furore about the Milner goal),” he said.

“If he hadn’t scored it was a penalty and a sending off. I don’t know whether we would have scored the penalty but ten minutes later Gareth Barry did score one so there is a fair chance and they would have been down to ten men.

“The roles would have been reversed and maybe then Ashley Young might not have been sent off - maybe...maybe ...maybe!”

O’Neill says there could not be any doubt whatsoever about Paul McShane’s penalty on Gabby Agbonlahor.

“If anyone can tell me that Gabby Agbonlahor’s was not a penalty – then I do not know what is,” he said.

“The foul started maybe a yard outside the box and finished well inside. By the time he had kicked his head off his head was inside the penalty box. It was extraordinary.”