Herd, making his first start since an impressive August appearance against Wolverhampton, was dismissed on 35 minutes following a clash with Jonas Olsson inside his own box, where the Aussie allegedly stamped his opponent.

The Perth-born 22-year-old had been doing well in midfield for Villa - who went ahead on 23 minutes through Darren Bent - before the sending off which resulted in a WBA penalty.

Chris Brunt missed the resultant penalty but Albion would make their numerical advantage count, with goals through Olsson and Paul Scharner winning the day.

Villa boss Alex McLeish said: "The sending off was the turning point, no question. The replay I've seen indicated Chris was extricating his foot from Olsson's grasp. We don't see a stamp. That's what it looks like.

"Until I see another picture that makes it look like he stamped on somebody then allegedly it doesn't look like a sending off.

"Gordon Cowans was sitting high up [in the stand] and he said he saw Olsson punch Chris on the shoulder just before it and the officials never saw it.

"The linesman said it looked like he stamped on him or he thought he stamped on him. He's got to be 100 per cent right. Maybe's he's right but until I see a better picture?

"But I didn't see a reaction from Olsson either! If he'd been stamped on I would have thought they'd be a massive reaction from a player. And Olsson's a big warrior and someone who would have reared up on something like that. I don't know. I need to see a better picture."

McLeish continued: "Chris has been very quiet in dressing room. He feels he's left team down. He got involved in a wee bit of pulling and shoving. Hopefully he's not been lured into doing something he shouldn't."

Elsewhere, Socceroo Rhys Williams ensured Middlesbrough returned to winning ways and maintained their unbeaten home record this season with a goal in the 2-0 victory over Derby County at the Riverside.

The defender’s goal just before the break on 45 minutes gave Boro the lead before Marvin Emnes notched his sixth goal of the season with a 52nd minute header. Scott McDonald played the entire match and caused the Derby defence problems throughout the match but was thwarted by Frank Fielding on more then one occasion. The win moves Boro into second in the Championship while Derby move down to sixth.

Continuing in the Championship, Socceroo Mile Jedinak played a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory Crystal Palace thoroughly deserved. Patrick McCarthy got on the end of a Sean Scannell cross to give Palace a 55th minute lead and all three points against Ipswich Town. The result sees Palace move into third on the Championship table.

Adam Federici and his Reading teammates are now unbeaten in seven matches after playing out a 1-1 draw against 10-man Southampton. Mikele Leigertwood had given Reading a 71st minute lead before a sublime finish from Steve De Ridder with 10 minutes remaining secured an unlikely point for the league leaders.

Patrick Kisnorbo was an unused substitute yet again as Leeds United scored a winner deep into injury time to defeat Peterborough 3-2 at the London Road. Leeds are now unbeaten in five games and occupy one of the playoff places.

In the United Arab Emirates, Socceroo captain Lucas Neill was left disappointied as Al Jazira conceded a 90’+4 minute equaliser against Al Sharjah while Marco Bresciano did not feature as Al Nasr played out a 1-1 at home to Ajman.

In the Eredivisie, life under Jan Wouters at FC Utrecht got off to a disappointing start as Heerenveen triumphed 4-1 at the Stadion Galgenwaard. Michael Zullo played a full 90 minutes while Tommy Oar was substituted on the hour mark. Adam Sarota did not make it off the bench.

Socceroo Carl Valeri returned to the Sassuolo starting lineup in their goalless away to struggling Empoli. The result sees Sassuolo unbeaten in five while Empoli are winless in five.

Former Perth Glory forward Nikita Rukavytsya was an unused substitute in Hertha Berlin’s 0-0 draw against struggling Mainz. The Berlin side had a number of chances late on to take all three points but Mainz ensured they would leave Olympiastadion with a point.

Mathew Leckie did not recover in time to make the match day squad as Borrusia Monchengladbach suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Hoffenheim. A 56th minute goal from striker Vedad Ibisevic put an end to their recent goal drought which had seen them fail to score since beating Wolfsburg on September 17. The defeat has seen Hoffenheim move within a point of stuttering Monchengladbach.

Mitchell Langerak watched from the bench as Borussia Dortmund moved within three points of Bayern Munich with a resounding 5-0 win over Cologne.

In the German second tier on Friday night, Socceroo Robbie Kruse was a 77th minute substitute as Fortuna Dusseldorf moved within a point of Greuther Furth with a 3-0 win at home to Hansa Rostock.

In Croatia, Steve Lustica was a 78th minute substitute in Hajduk Split's 3-0 win at Lucko. Former Jets and Victory defender Ljubo Milicevic did not feature.

In the J-League, Socceroo Josh Kennedy was on the scoresheet once again for Nagoya Grampus as they came from behind to defeat Omiya Ardija 3-2. With scores locked at 2-2, an 83rd minute penalty from Kennedy proved the difference and leaves Nagoya equal with Gamba Osaka in second.

Elsewhere in Japan, Socceroo defender Matthew Spiranovic did not make it off the bench as Urawa Red Diamonds secured a vital three points away to fourth placed Yokohama F.Marinos. Yokohama took a 4th minute lead before goals from Haraguchi and Umesaki in the space of twelve minutes inspired Urawa to a 2-1 win.

In China, Joel Griffiths continued his recent goal scoring form as he netted the only goal in Beijing Guoan’s 1-0 win away to Tianjin Teda.

In Korea, Luke DeVere put in a full shift in Gyeongnam’s 3-1 win at Sangju Sangmu. Gyeongham have now won three in a row and sit seventh on the K-League table.

Elsewhere in the K-League, Robert Cornthwaite and his Chunnam Dragons played out a 1-1 draw against the second placed Pohang Steelers. Chunnam are winless in five games and are on equal points with Gyeongnam.

In League One, Aussie James Wesolowski scored his first goal of the season for Oldham in their 2-0 victory against the travelling Wycombe Wanderers. Wesolowski gave Athletic a 59th minute lead before Dean Furman ensured all three points with an 80th minute strike. Alex Cisak put in another full shift with Wesolowski, keeping a clean sheet for Paul Dickov’s men.

In League Two, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff netted a 45th minute equaliser in Shrewsbury Town’s 1-1 draw at Rotherham. Shrewsbury remains in sixth place with fourteen matches played.

In Cyprus, Danny Invincibile completed a full 90 minutes for Ermis in their 3-0 loss to Aris. Ermis are yet to register a league win this season.