Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Aston Villa 2.
Jay Rodriguez bundled in a controversial injury-time equaliser with his hand as West Brom twice came from behind to draw a dramatic derby with Aston Villa.
Two Anwar El Ghazi goals - one wickedly defected off Ahmed Hegazi, the second a stunner - had looked set to lift Dean Smith's Villa into the Championship top six and earn them a third-straight away win.
But, from Matt Phillips' right-wing cross, Villa keeper Orjan Nyland was found wanting as Rodriguez bravely nipped in ahead of him and the ball bounced in off his hand while the striker was on the floor.
Villa players complained to referee Darren England it had gone in illegally but, after consulting with his fellow officials, he gave it.
The leveller took Rodriguez to 10 Championship goals for the season, matching his strike partner Dwight Gayle, who had slotted home Albion's first equaliser before the break.
A second home draw in the space of five days moves third-placed Albion within four points of leaders Norwich City, while Villa remain eighth, now two points off a play-off place.
But Villa top scorer Tammy Abraham had only himself to blame for not putting the game to bed when, at 2-1 up, he missed two great chances, missing his kick from six yards out with only the keeper to beat before blazing a header over.
A derby full of incident
Villa took a hugely fortunate 12th-minute lead when Albion defender Hegazi got in the way of El Ghazi's goalbound left-foot shot - and succeeded only in steering home a deft header, which totally wrong footed home keeper Sam Johnstone.
But the Baggies responded well and were level on 28 minutes when Harvey Barnes won his one-on-one duel with Alan Hutton down the Albion left, chipped to the right of the box and found Gayle who controlled before steering home a low right-foot shot on the volley.
John McGinn was close to restoring Villa's lead when his powerful right-foot drive slammed against Johnstone's left upright.
But, when his Villa team-mate El Ghazi came up with a strike of similar quality, this time there was no escape for Albion.
Jack Grealish set it up with a weaving crossfield run but, just when he was bundled off the ball looking for a free kick, the ball ran on to El Ghazi and he unleashed a 25-yard right foot thunderbolt that flew into the top right corner.
Gayle then headed over and it needed a great cover tackle to deny Barnes, before Villa should have sealed victory at the other end.
From Yannick Bolasie's left wing cross, 11-goal Abraham somehow conjured up an incredible miss as he went to slide in with his left foot, got his long legs in a hopeless tangle and missed completely. And he then flashed a near post header high and wide.
Albion then survived a big penalty shout when Hegazi appeared to take out both Bolasie and Abraham.
But it was the Baggies who had the last word as, despite furious Villa protests it was handball, Rodriguez rescued a point.
'He admits it hit his arm'
Baggies head coach Darren Moore said Rodriguez did not deny the leveller had gone in off his hand.
"Jay Rodriguez just threw himself at the cross," Moore told BBC Sport. "He admits that it did hit his arm but he didn't know much about it. And you've got to admire his honesty.
"I was cheesed off with a decision or two that didn't go our way against Brentford on Monday night and I can understand Dean Smith will be unhappy, but to score as late as that in a game is like a win.
"I'm delighted with the way we kept going and got something from the game. The way Gareth Barry drove us on and showed his leadership was a credit to him."
But Villa head coach Smith was unhappy with the officiating.
"The officials know they've made a mistake," he added. "But we can't change it now. Everyone in the ground has seen it except the people that mattered.
"We were fortunate for our first goal with the deflection but, in the second half, we've gone toe to toe with a team who were in the Premier League last season and created the better chances.
"We had chances to kill it off. Last week I was praising Tammy Abraham for his extendable legs. This time they got in his way. But that's football."
Line-ups
West Brom
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Johnstone
- 24TosinSubstituted forBurkeat 82'minutes
- 25Dawson
- 26HegaziBooked at 63mins
- 3Gibbs
- 10Phillips
- 8LivermoreBooked at 61minsSubstituted forBruntat 72'minutes
- 18Barry
- 16Gayle
- 19Rodriguez
- 15Barnes
Substitutes
- 6Sako
- 11Brunt
- 12Mears
- 13Myhill
- 17Burke
- 22Hoolahan
- 34Harper
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Nyland
- 21Hutton
- 4Tuanzebe
- 5Chester
- 3TaylorSubstituted forEl Mohamadyat 52'minutes
- 7McGinn
- 14Hourihane
- 10GrealishSubstituted forWhelanat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 22El Ghazi
- 18Abraham
- 11BolasieSubstituted forKodjiaat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Whelan
- 9Hogan
- 26Kodjia
- 27El Mohamady
- 31Bunn
- 38O'Hare
- 39Revan
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 26,513
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Aston Villa 2.
Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Conor Hourihane.
Booking
Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa).
Post update
Attempt saved. Kieran Gibbs (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! West Bromwich Albion 2, Aston Villa 2. Jay Rodriguez (West Bromwich Albion) with an attempt from very close range to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Ørjan Nyland (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Glenn Whelan replaces Jack Grealish because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady.
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Attempt saved. Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Barry.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jonathan Kodjia replaces Yannick Bolasie.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Oliver Burke replaces Tosin Adarabioyo.
Post update
Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion).
Comments
Join the conversation
Even Maradona had the decency to only handle it once.
In truth though, Villa should have buried this game long before that, despite producing a stilted performance.
Still plenty of time to climb into the top two. Bring on Stoke.
Its only handball if its DELIBERATE. If it struck his arm accidentally, no handball. If he meant it, then that is handball.
I understand the authorities are considering changing the rule so the deciding factor is whether you gain an advantage.
But unless and until they do, dems de rules.
Even better results for Leeds and Norwich though. MOT ALAW.
Just because the ball came into contact with his arm doesn't make it a handball offence.
The match officials got it spot on
Did I say I live with my parents, Robbo? My wife died of cancer earlier this year, so I now live alone with my daughter. But I frequent my parents' residence often because their company helps me get through the long days.
It's very easy to make presumptions about people with limited information. Very sad.
Thank goodness Villa didn't win... sky sports and the like won't be too happy with their favourite team only drawing.
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Oh god it's The Incredible Sulk
Did Rodriguez mean to do it? no
Is it handball? yes
why moan about a player being honest? do we not want to encourage that?
instead of villa fans crying you should be celebrating the fact you are playing good football and have a manager with new ideas
Try focussing on the positives