Aston Villa star Jhon Duran SENT OFF for moment of madness against Newcastle with Toon stars left furious
JHON DURAN saw red after a horror challenge on Fabian Schar.
The Aston Villa striker, 21, finally dislodged Ollie Watkins in the starting XI for Unai Emery in recent weeks.
But he lasted just half an hour in the Boxing Day trip to Newcastle.
Already showing his frustration earlier on when prevented from taking a free-kick, Duran lost his cool while in a foot race with Schar.
The Colombian youngster lost out in the battle and slipped into a tackle on the Newcastle centre-back.
He seemingly landed on his left foot on Schar’s left hip.
But in a secondary action, Duran flicked his right boot out, catching Schar on the back with his studs and then pushing his foot up towards his opponent’s head.
That prompted a furious reaction from Newcastle trio Martin Dubravka, Dan Burn and Joelinton who were quick to remonstrate with Duran as Schar clutched at the sore spots on his backside while lying on the turf.
Referee Anthony Taylor took his time before brandishing the red card.
And they were few complaints from the Villa man, his team-mates or the manager.
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Duran then risked further punishment by furiously kicking a water bottle on the sidelines before being marched down the tunnel.
Emery barely even looked at his No9, knowing he may well have ruined Christmas for Villa.
The visitors fell behind in just the second minute at St James’ Park thanks to Anthony Gordon’s superb curling finish.
But they felt they should have been back level in terms of players on the pitch just before half-time.
Joelinton swung a stray arm out at Morgan Rogers, catching the Villa man around the neck.
Rogers went down in a heap, desperately trying to get Joelinton red carded.
But Taylor decided a yellow was sufficient punishment.
Then at half-time in the tunnel, tempers boiled over once again as Eddie Howe’s assistant Jason Tindall and a Villa analyst both saw red.
Tindall had been separated from Emery in the first half as the two coaching staffs clashed.
But the talk on social media at the break was all about Duran’s moment of madness – although many suggested he could feel hard done by to receive his marching orders.
One said: “Harsh red.”
Another wrote: “Not in a million years.”
And a third added: “Disgraceful decision.”
But another user replied: “The first one I would give him the benefit but the second is so deliberate.”
And a final commented: “He 100 per cent tries to do him, right decision red card, intent more than actual contact.”
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given also gave his verdict at half-time.
He told Amazon Prime Video: “I think Schar puts in a brilliant tackle.
“But I think he leaves a bit on Duran in the tackle and Duran reacts raking his studs down him.”
Duran – who scored in successive starts against Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City – will now be banned for Villa’s home games with Brighton, Leicester and then West Ham in the FA Cup.