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West BromWest Bromwich Albion2Aston VillaAston Villa2

West Brom 2-2 Aston Villa: Jay Rodriguez earns Baggies stoppage-time draw

By Ged ScottBBC Sport at The Hawthorns
Aston Villa players
Villa players were furious after it appeared Jay Rodriguez's equaliser went in off his hand

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

Home TeamWest BromAway TeamAston Villa
Possession
Home52%
Away48%
Shots
Home14
Away15
Shots on Target
Home6
Away7
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home17
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Aston Villa 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Aston Villa 2.

  3. Post update

    Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Conor Hourihane.

  4. Booking

    Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Post update

    Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa).

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Post update

    Ørjan Nyland (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion).

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Aston Villa. Glenn Whelan replaces Jack Grealish because of an injury.

  12. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  13. Post update

    Delay in match Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) because of an injury.

  14. Post update

    Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady.

  16. Post update

    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.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Aston Villa. Jonathan Kodjia replaces Yannick Bolasie.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Oliver Burke replaces Tosin Adarabioyo.

  19. Post update

    Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion).

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As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Norwich20124435221340
2Leeds20116333171639
3West Brom21106544301436
4Middlesbrough209832213935
5Nottm Forest20810232211134
6Sheff Utd2010463224834
7Derby2010463024634
8Aston Villa218854132932
9Birmingham207943024630
10Blackburn207852630-429
11QPR208482429-528
12Stoke206952525027
13Swansea207582221126
14Bristol City207582424026
15Wigan207492328-525
16Sheff Wed206592536-1123
17Brentford205783129222
18Preston205783135-422
19Hull2055101928-920
20Rotherham204881930-1120
21Reading2046102632-618
22Millwall2046102433-918
23Bolton2046101326-1318
24Ipswich2018111735-1811
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