Aston Villa succeed with Henri Lansbury appeal
Henri Lansbury will be available for Villa’s trip to Barnsley on Saturday after the club successfully appealed the midfielder’s red card against Middlesbrough.
The 26-year-old had been facing a three-game suspension after being dismissed during the second half of Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Villa Park when he tripped Boro winger Marvin Johnson.
But Villa appealed against referee David Lillington’s decision and an independent FA commission has now ruled in their favour.
Both boss Steve Bruce and Boro counterpart Garry Monk had questioned the officials’ judgement in the immediate aftermath of a game in which both teams were reduced to ten men, former Villa winger Adama Traore having been dismissed in just the fourth minute.
“It was silly. He didn’t need to do it,” said Bruce. “But I don’t see why it is a red card. It is a yellow card, a deliberate trip. He hasn’t kicked him.”
Bruce, under pressure after a poor start to the season, also expects to have on loan Tottenham midfielder Josh Onomah back for Saturday’s trip to Oakwell.
The 19-year-old missed the draw with Boro after suffering a leg injury in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Brentford.
