I wasn’t just being biased when I credited Villa’s second goal in the last game against West Brom to Gabby. As far as I’m aware the definition of an own goal goes along the lines that the ball’s path is deflected from an off-target trajectory to on-target by an opposition player. Or they just lump it into their own net of course.

Gabby had no one to pass to, so he obviously wasn’t trying to cross, it had to be a shot. Speculative sure, but a shot nonetheless. And more importantly it was an on-target shot as you can see in the annotated screen grab below.

In fairness, I don’t think anyone is disputing that it was a shot, or that it was on target so I really can’t understand why this goal wasn’t given to Gabby.

So why does this matter?? Well, as Gabby hasn’t been credited with the goal his tally for the season is a 4th place 9, instead of joint 3rd with Zaki on 10. Gareth Barry also had the assist that his lovely through ball initially earned him scratched after whoever makes these decisions called it as an OG. (By the way, who does make these decisions and can they be reviewed?? If so, fix it!!)

Personal records aside, it will forever be written in the history books that Villa basically won the game thanks to an OG. That’s how it will look, few will remember that it was really Gabby’s goal and that the gap-toothed gypsy just made a mess of it.

At the end of the season we’ll be told by bitter rivals how lucky we were because we won so many games because of own goals. I saw somewhere recently (and annoyingly I can’t find it now) that it’s now 5 OGs this season and heading towards some sort of record.

No, that’s wrong. Credit where it’s due. It was Gabby’s goal and Barry’s assist.

*Update* Apparently I forgot about the “Dubious Goals Panel” and this goal as been submitted for their review. As far as I can tell they meet every few months and don’t have the greatest of history in reaching the correct decision. Don’t hold you breath then!!