MATT LOWTON was sent off for a nasty challenge on Calum Chambers in injury time.
And that will rule the Burnley defender out of their crucial relegation decider.
3
3
3
The right-back, 32, drove forward in the first of four minutes of added time as the Clarets looked for a dramatic winner.
But his desperation got the better of him as he chased after the ball following a heavy touch.
Aston Villa defender Chambers goes for the ball as reckless Lowton comes in at high speed and could have easily done serious damage to his opponent.
Ref Paul Tierney judged it to be serious foul play and immediately brandished the red card.
VAR John Brooks did look at the incident but stuck with the on-field decision.
However, some fans on Twitter were unconvinced and felt that was too harsh – citing the relatively little contact and Lowton seemingly winning the ball.
One said: “Reckless, no control of the follow-through. Red for me.”
Another agreed: “Red card all day long.”
But a third wrote: “Wins the ball. Single footed. Catches him with momentum. Its a yellow every day of the week.”
And a final user commented: “Not even sure it should be a foul, frankly. He plays the ball, wins the ball cleanly, and momentum takes him through.
“He can’t stop dead and he has to try to win the ball. Aren’t many clean tackles out there where a player isn’t hit in the aftermath.”
Lowton’s sending off came at the end of a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Ashley Barnes’ penalty put Mike Jackson’s side ahead just before half-time but Emi Buendia equalised on 48 minutes.
The draw was enough to see Burnley leapfrog Leeds out of the bottom three.
And with Everton winning against Crystal Palace, it is a straight shootout between the Clarets and the Whites to avoid the drop.
Burnley face Newcastle at home knowing they simply have to match Leeds’ result at Brentford to stay up because their goal difference is 20 better.
However, they must do it without Lowton who will join fellow defenders Ben Mee and Erik Pieters as well as Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Westwood and Matej Vydra on the sideline at Turf Moor on Sunday.
