Credit: Imago and BBC Match of the Day

Daniel Davis

Mon 23 March 2026 7:10, UK

Joe Hart admitted Mads Hermansen was to blame for Aston Villa’s second goal in West Ham United‘s 2-0 defeat at Villa Park on Sunday – and he had a point.

Hermansen made his first real mistake since returning to the starting XI after weakly parrying Morgan Rogers’ tame effort, allowing Ollie Watkins to snap up the rebound.

The Dane has been in outstanding form in recent weeks, deservedly earning an international call-up for Denmark, and was defiant in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

However, he did not deal with Rogers’ shot effectively, condemning the Hammers to a bruising loss that keeps them in the relegation zone ahead of the international break.

Hart, who played for the London side in the 2017-18 campaign, delivered his verdict on the goalkeeper’s error against Villa, suggesting he may still be low on confidence.

Mads Hermansen’s mistake scrutinised

Hermansen’s failure to hold onto the rolling effort raised eyebrows in the Match of the Day studio on Sunday night, with Premier League veteran Hart unimpressed.

“It’s a difficult moment for a team,” said Hart. “West Ham have had a few good moments recently, of course they have. But there’s no getting away from it.

“They’ve swapped Hermansen and Areola this season. They’re not as confident as you’d like them to be. People at home will rightly be asking questions. ‘How’s a Premier League goalkeeper done this?'”

The 25-year-old stopper had looked set to field the initial shot from the edge of the area but could only spill out to his left, where Watkins had raced in to follow up.

Whether he had taken his eye off the ball or misjudged his angles, only he will know. But the brutal fact is that any top-flight goalkeeper would have been expected to save it.

Closely analysing his questionable technique, Hart added: “He’s set to spring across his goal. Turns out it’s not actually a good finish.

“Just as it takes that bounce, Hermansen’s instinct is to catch.

“With the predicament that West Ham are in, he maybe thinks parry it, get it out of the danger area. He ends up doing nothing.”

Clearly, Hermansen was partly culpable for the goal, but the blame also lies with his defenders, who were slow to apply pressure on Rogers before not dealing with the rebound.

Hermansen set for Denmark debut

The £20million man will have to move on quickly, though, after being named in Denmark’s squad for their World Cup qualifying second round semi-final tie against North Macedonia.

Hermansen is yet to make his senior debut for his country despite playing regularly at every youth level, but with Kasper Schmeichel ruled out, he could finally get his big chance.

In a further boost to his chances, Filip Jorgensen, who likely would have replaced Schmeichel, will also be absent after being forced to undergo surgery on a groin injury.

Frederik Ronnow will compete with Hermansen for the number one jersey, but the Hammers’ custodian deserves to get the nod, regardless of his mistake against Aston Villa.

In the longer term, however, West Ham will have to decide between Hermansen and Areola, with one of the stoppers likely to be moved on during the summer transfer window.