The crowds get thee earlier, with shiny,happy faces carry shopping bags filled with club merchandise. There’s barriers and queues, rows of security everywhere making sure nobody goes into the wrong building without the right ticket, waiting crowds whipped up by “The team are two minutes from the ground…” announcements. Fanzones, live music, food trucks. Everything is an event, nobody has to think for themselves.

The reason I’ve started this diatribe is the hope that by the time I eventually get round to writing about the match I might have calmed down a bit. So here goes.

The team was much as you might have thought it would be, the one eyebrow-raiser being Douglas Luiz replacing Amadou Onana. Leon Bailey was on the bench and Tammy Abraham came in for the injured Ollie Watkins, because whenever a Villa player is doubtful the only doubt is how long he’ll be out for.

It was cold, it was damp and what came afterwards did nothing to liven up anyone in the crowd who didn’t support Brentford, or a few other teams who play in rad and white. Villa were nowhere near as fluid as they can be, which was hardly surprising in the circumstances, but still looked the more likely to score, particularly when a Brentford defender was sent off as half-time approached, for an unprovoked attack on Matty Cash.

The ‘more likely to score’ idea lasted for all of four minutes. Still, there’s another half, plenty of time to get a goal against ten men. And indeed, it didn’t take long. Jadon Sancho’s shot was parried to Abraham, who showed his poacher’s instinct is still there by putting the ball away. One-one and it’s looking better.

There’s a four minute VAR check and the goal’s ruled out. Not because of anything Sancho or Abraham did wrong, but because nineteen seconds earlier the ball looked like it might have gone out. Nineteen seconds – why not go the whole hog and replay the entire match every time there’s a goal, just in case?

To make matters worse the infringement, such as it was, was so indistinct that nobody could be certain whether it had existed or not. It was neither clear nor obvious, so either it should be allowed to stand or at the very least, it should have been down to the referee’s discretion.

That’s what you’d think, but no. The goal was disallowed and the match could have ended then – Villa knew it wasn’t their day. Brentford did what they came to do, they defended well and were helped by some lenient refereeing. Villa were a shadow of what they’re capable of, which is hardly surprising when you’re missing all of what is arguably the best midfield quarter in the country.

But the overwhelming take from the day was that decision. If it had been allowed to stand Villa would likely have gone on to win and now be a clear second in the table; instead the chasing pack have made up ground.

It could end up costing us £100 million, lead to people losing their jobs and, who knows, might make the best owners and manager we could wish for think there’s no point in fighting every battle with one arm behind your back if at every opportunity your feet get tied together as well.

I never thought football was corrupt. When VAR was introduced I thought it was to make TV audiences happier that they were watching a game show with set rules rather than a sport, with all the uncertainties that brings, and to promote clicks and hits. That’s what I used to think.