Path to elite football full of pitfalls for Newcastle and Villa

Football is full of sliding doors moments, when the game’s randomness facilitates great consequences.

- John Brewin

In May, the name of Thomas Bramall, a rookie referee, entered Aston Villa infamy for ruling out a Morgan Rogers strike at Old Trafford that might have guided Unai Emery's team into this season's Champions League.

Instead, Villa, already down to 10 men after Emiliano Martinez's red card, lost 2-0 to Manchester United. At St James' Park, Newcastle United were reprieved, having lost 1-0 to Everton and endured moments of agony as they awaited full time in Manchester.

Both clubs suffered troubled summers. Newcastle sold Alexander Isak against their wishes and had their struggles signing players, but Champions League football this season gave fans much to look forward to. Contrast with Villa, skirting close to financial regulations with a reported wages-to-turnover ratio of 90 per cent and the lack of the same cash injection they got from reaching the quarterfinals of Europe's elite competition.