John Terry was booked during Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham after a heated row with Hammers staff.

The Hammers survived a late scare to beat Aston Villa for their third straight victory.

Jarrod Bowen’s header helped West Ham move up to fifth with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, who missed a penalty and had a late goal ruled out for offiside.

The Hammers took the lead in the second minute, Angelo Ogbonna climbing highest from a Bowen corner to send a towering header into the net.

Meanwhile, the East Londoners were fuming after Jack Grealish was awarded what they believed was a soft free-kick and Dean Smith’s assistant stood up to back his man.

West Ham coach Dave Billows was also given a yellow in the aftermath as the ref came over to sort the matter after a report from the fourth official.

Dean Smith accused the Hammers bench of calling Grealish a ‘diver and a cheat’.

England man Grealish went down under what appeared to be a soft challenge from Pablo Fornals.

The Spaniard boot did brush the England man’s knee but Grealish’s international team-mate Declan Rice was incensed over the perceived play acting.

And the anger spilled over onto the benches.

Terry was seen standing in his seat shouting across at the East Londoners’ bench.

Words were exchanged between other members of staff but only the two coaches were booked.

There are fresh reports that Chelsea are pressing ahead with plans to land David Alaba on a free transfer.

Frank Lampard’s side remain in pole position ahead of fellow European heavyweights to land the signature of the Bayern Munich superstar.

According to AS, the Blues will send representatives to talk with Alaba’s agent in the New Year and convince the defender his future belongs at Stamford Bridge.

Alaba’s availability and long list of accolades mean he is one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are, according to The Sun, just three clubs in a transfer tug-of-war while Liverpool and Manchester City have also been linked.

But the involvement of Alaba’s agent Pini Zahavi, who has helped Roman Abramovich’s club seal many transfers in the past, is said to help the Blues’ case.

The Austrian is a serial winner with nine league titles and two Champions League trophies.

Lampard wants Alaba to continue mixing experience with youth and is likely to play him in central defence with Ben Chilwell occupying the left side.

Alaba fell out with Bayern after the lack of movement in contract talks was confirmed by the club.

Club president Herbert Hainer said earlier this month that an offer was ‘no longer’ on the table after a ‘very good’ figure was deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ by the player’s camp.

Fulham forward Ademola Lookman paid tribute to former Whites midfielder Papa Bouba Diop after scoring the opening goal in their 2-1 win at Leicester City.

The 23-year-old fired the visitors ahead at the King Power Stadium in the 30th minute on Monday night.

Lookman ran over to his team’s bench and grabbed hold of a Senegal shirt, with Diop’s number on the back, and held it aloft to mark his strike.

The celebration was done in tribute to the late Diop, who tragically passed away at the weekend at the age of just 42 after a long illness.

Diop was one of the heroes of Senegal’s memorable run to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, scoring the only goal in a shock 1-0 victory over then-holders France in their opening game.

The former midfielder played for Fulham and Portsmouth in the Premier League – winning the FA Cup with Pompey in 2008.

Fulham took part in a minute’s applause on the pitch, while Diop’s Senegal shirt hung in the dressing room before kick off.

Former Barcelona President Joan Laporta has revealed the Blaugrana turned down Inter’s €250m bid to sign Leo Messi in 2006.

Laporta served as Barcelona’s president from 2003 to 2010 and he has now officially announced his bid to become president again after Josep Maria Bartomeu’s resignations.

Speaking to Radio Onda Cero, cited by Football Italia, on Monday, he revealed he turned down a massive Inter bid to sign Leo Messi in 2006.

“Nobody who loves Barcelona can have doubts about Messi. I hope I can be named president and then I’ll speak with him.

“We rejected a €250m offer coming from Inter in 2006. [Massimo] Moratti wanted to bring him to his club.

“We have a plan to recover the dramatic economic situation of the club,” Laporta continued.

“We can fix the world but we can make it a better place and we want to do it through hard word, passion and love. We want to bring happiness to people, it’s not an electoral promise. It’s an ethical, civic, moral and commitment.”