SCOTLAND goalkeeper David Marshall deserved to be sent off in Cardiff City’s 2-1 loss at Rotherham
That’s the shock verdict of his own manager Russell Slade!
The City boss admitted the international No.1 left the referee with no choice but to show him a red card three minutes from the interval.
Former Celtic shotstopper Marshall was dismissed after kicking out at Rotherham’s Matt Derbyshire inside the penalty area.
Slade said: “I’ve watched the incident on video and it clearly should have been a Cardiff free-kick because their player pulled Marshall.
“Yes, Marshall lashed out. It is a sending off, but not a penalty.
“We should have been down to 10 men, but should not have been a goal down.
“Marshall left the 10 out there in a difficult position and he will regret that. He is a good man, good professional, but sometimes a player sees red mist.
“Knowing the man he will have apologised to his team-mates. Marshall gave the referee no choice. I totally accept that.”
Marshall missed the first three games of the season after a butting incident in the final game last term against Nottingham Forest.
Referee Keith Hill missed Derbyshire’s challenge on the keeper and the player was lucky to escape a booking.
Slade added: “When the referee came off he said he didn’t see Derbyshire pull at Marshall. I find that staggering.
“It’s a free-kick.. We all know the rules, but the referee missed it completely.
“How can he not see it? There are also linesmen and a fourth official. They should work as a team.
“Overall, I felt the 10 players did enough as a group to earn a point. We made sacrifices to try and earn the draw, but it was a difficult afternoon to go down to 10 men.
“We reduced Rotherham to very little and I thought they had run out of ideas. They hit a post and had a header, but little else.
“We have suffered two defeats in a week and that’s how hard football can be.”
On Cardiff’s penalty, for a foul on Fabio, the Bluebirds gaffer said: “When he went down there was no reaction from Rotherham defenders. It looked a clear trip.”
Vadis Odijidja-Ofoe netted from Rotherham’s penalty-kick award, but Peter Whittingham levelled from the spot just before the interval. Three minutes into stoppage time, Mark Connolly turned the ball past substitute keeper Simon Moore for the home side’s winner.
*Pic from recent Scotland game against Germany.
