'Wild indiscipline' - 1994 AFCON winner Ekoku blasts Aston Villa captain for horror tackle on Udogie 

1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning striker Efan Ekoku has blasted Aston Villa captain John McGinn for his horror tackle during the second half of the Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Nineteen minutes into the second half, McGinn was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Italian-Nigerian fullback Destiny Udogie.

The midfielder, in a moment of madness, made no attempt to play the ball and went straight for Udogie's legs as he tried to prevent a Tottenham Hotspur counterattack.

Initially, the Super Eagles-eligible player got up but he was in so much pains and returned to the ground. 

Prior to the incident, Aston Villa were trailing by two goals after strikes from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, and the task of a comeback was made even more difficult with their numerical disadvantage. 

Former Bournemouth star Ekoku, who was on commentary duties for the Premier League world feed, did not hold back as he had his say on the dismissal of  McGinn.

Ekoku remarked: "Wild indiscipline. Two goals down, yes it's a long, long way back. Awful challenge. This is not going to be overturned.

"He's a popular player John McGinn when he is being applauded off the field by the supporters but in truth it's a terrible decision.  It's just a poor, poor challenge.

"I was at Bramall Lane for an assault, and I have to use that word, by Mason Holgate on Kaoru Mitoma couple of weeks back. 

"This wasn't to that level, that's for sure, nonetheless extremely disappointing for the Villa head coach, perhaps extinguished any hopes of him getting back into this game."

Son Heung-min and Timo Werner scored two further goals in stoppage time as Tottenham ran out comfortable winners.

Despite the injury scare, Udogie managed to go the distance in his 23rd appearance in the Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: tottenhamhotspur.com

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