McLeish: Infuriated

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McLeish wants RvP looked at

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has demanded that the Football Association investigate Arsenal captain Robin van Persie for alleged illegal use of the elbow in Sunday’s fourth-round FA Cup tie.

The Gunners overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium, but McLeish believes Van Persie should have been punished for elbowing Villa defender Carlos Cuellar.

McLeish said: “I thought it was an elbow in the face, a clear elbow but the referee didn’t seem to think it was anything. I thought he hit him.

“I thought he put an elbow towards his face. He is not a guy to lie down and would get up quickly.

“Would I like them (The FA) to look at it - if it was an elbow in the face - then yes. It is dangerous and I don’t like to point fingers at players but it has happened to me enough times.

“I never mentioned it to the referee. I saw it in real time and it looked like a gesture.”

The Scot added that he was disappointed to see his team go lose and was flummoxed to see them fail to defend a two-goal lead.

“I am very disappointed we did not see it out and it is a missed opportunity,” he said. “The fans will be gutted at seeing us let that lead slip away.

“I said to the lads at half-time that I would like to be congratulating them at full-time, because it was an international performance in the first half.”

The former Birmingham boss, however, believes the match will serve as a good learning experience for his players.

“The penalty gave them a huge lift, and we looked a bit leggy, but we went right to the end and could even have had an equaliser with a late couple of chances, but it was not to be,” he added.

“We have to learn from this and try to obtain that winning mentality.”