Aston Villa centre-half James Chester was certainly a topic of debate following the 1-1 draw with Reading at Villa Park at the weekend.
It was a largely comfortable game for us, although the visitors did have chances of their own which led to Orjan Nyland impressing between the sticks, but having conceded the late penalty that they levelled from, fans who took to social media were certainly torn.
Chester took a fair bit of flack for going to ground and giving the referee a decision, even though I think with multiple replays, it was an extremely harsh decision but Mile Jedinak, Steve Bruce and others became targets as that moment was poured over.
Last #AVFC point.
Not just Potatohead.
The glory boys, the fans faves…Chester? Idiotic tackle in 93rd min. Utterly clueless.
Grealish? 0 goals & 1 assist (a corner!) in 5 games. Against 4 poor teams. £30m Prem player? Give me a break.
McGinn is the only shining light.
— A.M.C (@Conway1Alex) August 25, 2018
Annoyed we let 3 points slip away today, but having seen the highlights it did seem like a poorly timed challenge by Chester for the pen. Not a bad start to the season tho really. #Patience #AVFC
— Cratz (@HeatonSamuel) August 25, 2018
Such nonsense. If you’re banking on having to keep a clean sheet to win a game against 10 man Ipswich and at home to Reading, then you’re looking at a long season. Both mistakes should have been irrelevant because the games should have been out of sight.
— Alan Kelly (@AlanKelly87) August 25, 2018
Steve bruce would be crazy to not think that this defence needs some sorting out. The only difference now between fighting for playoffs or autos.
— Syed Abdullah (@ABvilllan) August 25, 2018
Opinions on todays match: players need to stop being so selfish, set someone up whose in a better position.
Nyland pulled off a worldie triple save. Much better kicking too.
Chester shouldn't have dived in.
RHM or Adomah should have been on for Grealish.
2 points dropped #avfc— Meaks89FM (@Richard_Meakin) August 25, 2018
At least today we played very well in the first half, but somehow didn’t score. McGinn really should of scored whilst Chester hit the crossbar and El Ghazi went close. For the pen Chester definitely at fault. No need to go down in that position #avfc
— AVFCchats ???????? (@AVFCchats) August 25, 2018
Agree Jedi ain’t a CB. Agreed Axel should play CB. But McGinn chose not to pass to an open Kodjia in first 20secs. Chester made a terrible decision. Kodjia was poor. So the stats are all in our favour, exactly how did Bruce make those players make stupid decisions? pic.twitter.com/Zpfhy1Gvxx
— Fran Gorman (@Weeman78AVFC) August 25, 2018
Overall Chester should never of gone for that tackle!!! Just shadow I’m out there was no way anything would of came from it anyway ffs. Expect better from the cap #avfc
— Oli???? (@oli_utv) August 25, 2018
Really? He had a lapse in concentration, thought the keeper was coming, panicked & dived in recklessly. Penalty from where I was sitting in North Stand. Poor from Chester imo.
— Simon Lines (@simonlines) August 25, 2018
As you can see from the comments, and there were plenty more, Chester does receive some praise as others get it in the neck, but interesting the way some seem to have already picked this year’s scapegoats regardless of the actual performance they put in.
