Unai Emery Confirms Aston Villa Will Appeal Jhon Duran's Red Card Dismissal Against Newcastle United

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Aston Villa's head coach, Unai Emery, has confirmed that the club will contest the red card issued to Jhon Duran during their Boxing Day loss to Newcastle United. The match at St James' Park saw Villa defeated 3-0, with Newcastle climbing to fifth in the Premier League standings. Duran's dismissal left Villa with ten players for over an hour after he allegedly kicked Newcastle's Fabian Schar.

Duran, at 21, became the youngest player sent off on Boxing Day since Wayne Rooney in 2002. Emery believes the decision was unjust. When questioned about appealing the red card, Emery stated: "Of course. Three matches because of this red card is hard to accept. You can watch the video, the footage was not clear."

Ezri Konsa, a defender for Villa, noted that Duran's expulsion significantly impacted their performance. "We conceded early and that's demoralising," Konsa explained. "Then the red card happens, and that's tough." He acknowledged that while they defended well at times, playing mostly defensively allowed opportunities for Newcastle.

Emery expressed concerns about fairness in refereeing decisions and emphasised Duran's commitment to improving his game. He remarked: "[He is now out for] three matches, maybe it is because it is Jhon Duran? We are trying to teach him and guide him in the right way, and he is putting in the effort."

Konsa also reflected on how Duran's absence affected Villa's strategy. "From where I was, it looked like Jhon Duran couldn't move," Konsa said. Despite this setback, he urged his team to learn from the experience and focus on future games.

The defeat marked a challenging day for Aston Villa as they struggled against a strong Newcastle side. The team must now regroup and prepare for upcoming fixtures without Duran due to his suspension.