Sanchez rants over referee

14 April 2012

Lawrie Sanchez, a victim of poor officialdom for a second week, attacked referees and their boss Keith Hackett after Fulham were denied the possibility of a win by Steve Bennett.

The referee, who banished Villa manager Martin O'Neill from the touchline at half-time for loud complaining, was harangued by Sanchez after Shaun Maloney snatched an injury-time winner for Villa.

Fuming: Sanchez can't believes his luck as another decision goes against him

Fuming: Sanchez can't believes his luck as another decision goes against him

Sanchez risked the wrath of the FA when he said: "I told him he had missed another major decision that would be exposed on TV.

"I said, 'You guys can't keep getting it wrong'."

Indeed, the cameras showed that Bennett missed a handball by full back Craig Gardner, a mistake that probably denied Diomansy Kamara a goal.

Sanchez added: "There have been so many major errors in the first weeks of the season that something needs to be done. I'll talk to Keith and ask why the penalty wasn't given.

"I hope he returns my call. I spoke to him last week about our disallowed goal against Boro but he didn't phone me back.

"I see he spent all his time talking to Rafa Benitez about the Chelsea penalty.

"Perhaps small clubs are not as important."

Ashley Young was electrifying all afternoon and Chris Baird was sent off 22 minutes from time for two harsh tackles on the Villa man.

It was tough on Fulham who were the better side in the first half after Craig Dempsey gave them the lead.

Villa came back into the game when Young's shot deflected past Carson off Zat Knight in the 51st minute.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson 7; Gardner 6, Mellberg 6, Laursen 6, Bouma 6 (Maloney 81min); Petrov 5 (Moore 45, 7), Reo-Coker 7, Barry 8, Young 9; Agbonlahor 7, Carew 6 (Harewood 79, 6).

FULHAM (4-4-2): Keller 7; Baird 4, Knight 6 (Pearce 47, 6), Bocanegra 7, Konchesky 7; Davies 6, Smertin 6, Davis 7, Kamara 7 (Volz 70) 6; Healy 6 (John 65, 6), Dempsey 7.

Man of the match: Ashley Young.

Referee: Steve Bennett.

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