Peterborough United players blamed for Shrewsbury Town red card
Peterborough United players played a big part in the sending-off of Shrewsbury Town midfielder Josh Vela on Saturday (October 31), according to Shrews boss Sam Ricketts.
Vela was dismissed in first-half added time by referee James Oldham for a lunge on Siriki Dembele that Posh boss Darren Ferguson described as ‘disgraceful’.
But Ricketts today told the Shropshire Star: “I think the referee made a hasty decision. The fourth (official) was telling me how fast it was, the intensity, it was two-footed, it was this and that.
“It wasn’t at all, it was one-footed. Yes he went in at speed, but it was from an angle.
“If you look at the point of contact his left foot is planted on the floor and his right one is outstretched, not to the front with studs up, but to the side trying to play the ball.
“It wasn’t a horrendous tackle. I can understand why it got given, but he’s tried to get the ball hard and firm, and missed the ball.
“I think it was more because of who it was on and the reaction of the Peterborough players which gets him sent off rather than the tackle itself.”
Posh were 2-1 up at the time of the red card and went on to win 5-1.