However, the result only told half the story as both sides saw refereeing decisions go against them in the first half.
Official Rade Obrenovic was also sent to the VAR monitor to assess the incident, but he stuck to his original decision, which is a rarity in the modern game.
Moments later, Feyenoord thought they had taken the lead through Ayase Ueda’s header from a corner, but the goal was immediately disallowed for apparent holding on Villa defender Matty Cash beforehand.
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Highlights: Buendia, McGinn strike as Villa make it two wins from two
Video credit: TNT Sports
Villa went on to score the winning goals in the second half, but Van Persie revealed that the referee had apologised to him at half-time for disallowing Feyenoord’s goal before the break.
“It’s a strange feeling to be standing here with a 2-0 loss because, in my opinion, we deserved more,” he told TNT Sports in his post-match interview.
“I don’t think it was the right call because the ref said apparently someone blocked a player from Villa and that was not the case.
“That was clear for us and a really important moment from our side. The ref said sorry to me during half-time because I asked him really politely: ‘Can you explain what just happened?’ Because nothing happened.
“Then he said sorry. He thought someone was blocked but he said sorry a couple of times. That’s a shame – it had a big influence on the game.”
TNT Sports pundits Stiliyan Petrov and Owen Hargreaves also agreed with the former Manchester United and Arsenal man about the referee’s call.
“I think that’s soft,” Hargreaves said. “None of the Villa players complain, so yeah, it’s a bit confusing.”
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No red? No goal? Pundits surprised by ‘shocking’ referee calls
Video credit: TNT Sports
Petrov added: “It’s really, really confusing. I think they are two really poor decisions from the referee.
“I think Matty Cash going down was a bit soft and too easy and the goal should’ve stood. It’s really a shocking first half for the referee.”
When discussing the referee’s decision to not brandish a red card for the challenge on Watkins, Hargreaves said: “He’s the last man so it’s a red card.
“I don’t know how he hasn’t seen it. I don’t know why he hasn’t sent him off but (Ahmedhodzic) is a very lucky man to stay on the pitch.”
Former Villa midfielder Petrov was also critical of the official for the Watkins incident and said: “It’s a clear red card and a really strange decision. The defender doesn’t have a chance to catch Ollie Watkins and I think it’s a really, really poor decision.”
Villa will be hoping that they can claim their fourth consecutive win in all competitions when they host Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, October 5.
