Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield has accused Luis Binks of “making a meal” of the incident that led to Liam Walsh being sent off with a straight red card – a decision the Hatters are set to appeal.
The Town manager insisted after the 1-0 Kenilworth Road victory over the Sky Blues that it was ‘never a red’ card. And with Luton still needing points at West Bromwich Albion next weekend to stay up, losing their “best” player would be a huge blow to their survival hopes.
Former Sky Blues loan star Walsh foolishly got involved in a minor melee midway through the second half when Isaiah Jones was fouled by Ben Sheaf on the edge of the box, resulting in a free-kick.
In the aftermath of the decision, Binks and Luton player Mark McGuinness were involved in a mini-skirmish which saw Walsh, who had just been booked moments earlier, go over and push the City defender, who dropped to the ground holding his head.
Referee Oliver Langford, who angered Frank Lampard for not sending Jones off later in the game for kicking out at Josh Eccles, showed Walsh his third red card of the season, meaning he will face a lengthy ban. A distraught Walsh trudged off down the tunnel and the club are now hoping that the fact that it wasn’t a second booking, instead a straight red, means there is a chance it could be overturned and that he will be able to face West Brom in the Championship-decider next weekend.
Asked if he had seen it back, Bloomfield said: “I have, and no chance (it’s a red), no chance. Unfortunately for the referee I think he’s been… Yeah, it’s not a red, it’s not a red. I think so (an appeal will be launched) and from my point of view we will be, absolutely.
“It’s not a red card, he’s barely put any hands on him. The lad’s gone down making a meal of it holding his face, it’s disappointing to see things like that.”
Bloomfield did accept that having already been booked, Walsh should have stayed away from the incident, saying: “Absolutely, he’d been booked, we’d won a free kick, but I need to see it back as I think Macca’s getting a little bit of grief and the lad obviously knows what he’s doing.
“He’s trying to get someone involved to then throw himself down, so I’m disappointed. He had been top, I thought he was the best player on the pitch on Monday (against Bristol City) and for however many minutes, I don’t know what minute he got sent off, he was one of the best on the pitch.
“Obviously he was allowed to show his vast array of passing range because he was free in the middle of the pitch, so it’s frustrating, but I guess it’s easier to take by the fact that we were able to find a winner.
“We’ll certainly be discussing it with Walshy. I do feel for him as it was never a red and he cares very deeply, so we’ve got to be careful with him. He’s gone to try and help one of his team-mates, he’s not done anything that should have resulted in a red card.”
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