Refs decisions baffled Bruce

Last updated : 22 December 2002 By Brian Cartlidge
Bruce has admitted that Geoff Horsfield's late challenge on Charlton full-back Luke Young warranted a red card from referee Rob Styles, but he questioned some of the bookings that came later in the game.

Robbie Savage, Aliou Cisse, Olivier Tebilly and Clinton Morrison also went into Styles' notebook along with four Charlton players.

"The first thing I always seem to be talking about are yellow cards," said the Blues boss. "I think there were eight in the last 30 minutes with a red card to go with it.

"If I'm being honest I thought the red card was deserved, but in Geoff Horsfield's defence I don't think he would deliberately go out to hurt somebody. But unfortunately his challenge was a typical centre forward's one, clumsy and horrible.

"I can sympathise with him but he will disciplined. Having looked at it again I can understand the decision and I've got no complaints about it.

"But some of the decisions after that baffled us all.

"Unless we're really careful here and show some common sense we're going to spoil the best league in the world with this constant nonsense.

"The consequences of it are that we've now got three players suspended in the next 14 days - that's Cisse, Horsfield and Tebily who's now reached his fifth yellow.

"As one of the smaller clubs it causes us a massive problem."

Blues' tally for yellow cards so far this season now stands at a staggering fifty-six!

Charlton Match Report




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