Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce left fuming after 'stamp' goes unpunished

Maupay appeared to stamp on the Villa midfielder in the 41st minute of last night’s 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

To add insult to injury the French striker, who had earlier opened the scoring, then bagged his second of the game to put the visitors back in front with eight minutes remaining.

Jonathan Kodjia salvaged a point for Villa with a header in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Bruce said: “It would have been unjust to lose.

“Referees have got a difficult job and I think a player was blocking his view. But the boy (Maupay) stamped on him. He stamped on McGinn. And he’s scored two.

“That’s two now I am aggrieved with because I should have made more of the one in the play-off final.

“It’s disappointing he has scored two but I am sure they will look at it.

“The last thing I want is to see red cards but the last thing you want to see is people stamping on others. When the boy looks at it he will know he did wrong.

“John (McGinn) is OK. He has got a few marks but he will be OK.”

Brentford manager Dean Smith had a different view. He said: “I didn't see it.

“Mile Jedinak fell over and then did a forearm smash on Maupay so if you're looking at retrospective punishment then there it is.

“I didn't see it because I turned round to look at the fourth official to ask about the Jedinak one.”

Kodjia’s performance was a huge plus for Villa. The Ivory Coast international netted twice to take his tally to three in two games, while his general display suggested he is now over the injury problems which forced him to miss most of last season.

“When you don’t get a goal to start with there is always a doubt,” said Bruce.

“His first goal was reminiscent of how he was 18 months ago. It is good to see him back in among it.”