Emi Martinez made the perfect start to life at Aston Villa by saving John Lundstram’s penalty on his debut.

With 35 minutes on the clock at Villa Park, Sheffield United were awarded a spot kick when Matt Targett tripped Chris Basham.

But after a needlessly-long VAR check by Mike Dean, Lundstram stepped up and smashed the ball to Martinez’s right.

The Argentine, who signed from Arsenal for £20million this month, flew across to make the save, getting two hands on it and pushing it past the post.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith couldn’t hide his delight at Martinez after the Argentinian kept a clean sheet and saved a penalty on his debut following his move from Arsenal.

He said: “He didn’t have an awful lot to do.

“His distribution is really good. He’s calm, assured. He’s got a really good personality.

“To keep a clean sheet and to save a penalty in your first game… I’ve not seen it back, it looked harsh at the time.

“He’s had to go and make a good save and he’s done that.”

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Frank Lampard has revealed that Thiago Silva could make his Chelsea debut in the League Cup against Barnsley.

Asked if new signings Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech could feature, Lamps said: “Too soon probably in terms of fitness wise.

“We’ll see with Thiago because Thiago’s not coming back off an injury, he’s just getting fit.

“The others it seems too soon, but they are not far away.”

Serie B and C referee Daniele De Santis and his partner were killed in his apartment on Monday evening.

According to La Repubblica, the 33-year-old and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Eleonora Manta, were found stabbed to death in his apartment in Lecce.

A man was seen running from the scene with a knife after neighbours were alerted by screaming.

De Santis was primarily a referee at Serie C level, and over his career had officiated 130 competitive matches.

He had made his Serie B debut as a fourth official in Pisa-Benevento in 2017.

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