Article #15484

There was a sheepish look on Lucas Digne’s face and for the referee, João Pinheiro, it was a case of reviewing whether the ball was out of play and not if the Aston Villa defender had handled inside the box. Even Digne wouldn’t dispute that bit. Digne naively raised both hands after Omari Hutchinson refused to deem Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross a lost cause and Nottingham Forest were presented with a chance to strike the first blow in this Europa League semi-final.

Just how damaging might Digne’s moment of madness prove? Chris Wood punished Villa from 12 yards, his penalty flawless. Unai Emery tried to gesture for calm as Forest’s support went berserk and their players moseyed back towards their half but afterwards the Villa manager expressed his anger at Elliot Anderson escaping a red card for a poor first-half tackle on Ollie Watkins.