Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was stunned by referee Steve Bennett's decisions

Nov 5 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill’s silence spoke volumes when he furiously refused to comment on another controversial refereeing display after Villa spurned the chance to go fourth at West Ham.

O’Neill was fuming over Steve Bennett’s decision to award a dubious penalty against Habib Beye and later red card the full-back during Villa’s last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Upton Park.

But after cautiously curbing his criticism of referee Lee Probert at Everton on Saturday, the Villa manager would not be drawn on his opinion of Bennett’s performance last night.

Beye’s sending off for two bookings at Upton Park follows Carlos Cuellar’s dismissal in similarly controversial circumstances at Goodison Park four days earlier.

“I’m not going to talk about it if you don’t mind,” fumed O’Neill.

“There’s no point, it’s a pointless exercise.

“I’m not going to make any comment on it. I think anybody who has access to a TV monitor can make their own mind up.