The Blues midfielder was dismissed in first-half injury-time as he and Portsmouth new signing Dario Silva contested a free-kick. Silva appeared to throw out his arm and Butt retaliated by aiming a kick at the Uruguayan international. "We are English and we like to see tempers and a few fisticuffs. There were 20,000 people in the stadium who paid to watch today and millions more will watch it on television around the world. We are in danger of turning the game soft. "Nicky Butt showed a bit of petulance by kicking out but he didn't make contact with his opponent and I don't understand why he was sent off. "The linesman made the decision from a position 60 yards away so you cannot blame the referee. But I'll go home tonight and see red and yellow cards all over the place which is something which didn't happen nearly as much in my day.
Referee Dermot Gallagher did not see the incident but his assistant did. Silva was shown a yellow card and Butt departed for the dressing room leaving Blues to cope with ten men for the whole of the second half.
"This is a man's game and that's why the Premiership is watched all over the world," Bruce fumed after the 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.
"Overall we are pleased to have taken a point but with 11 men we could well have taken all three."