Steve Bruce has confirmed that Aston Villa are likely to appeal Neil Taylor’s red card which he picked up against Bolton on Saturday afternoon.
The Villains secured a 1-0 win over the Wanderers after Jonathan Kodjia netted a penalty in the first half of the game and in turn helped the club win their fourth consecutive match in the Championship.
Left-back, Taylor, was shown a straight red card and dismissed by referee Jeremy Simpson after he fouled Adam Le Fondre during the fourth minute of stoppage time at Villa Park.
The Villa boss has admitted that he sympathises with the referee but believes that the foul should have been a yellow card instead.
“After what I’ve just seen, yes (we will appeal),” Bruce revealed after the clash, as quoted by the Express and Star.
“It was a difficult afternoon for the referee on a quick pitch and some of the physical challenges were shuddering.
“I’ve just looked at it again and there has been a lot of challenges similar to that if I’m being honest.
“It was a foul and probably a yellow card but in my opinion it’s not red because he’s not shown his studs.
“He’s tried to kick the ball so in that respect the referee has got it wrong. It’s been a tough afternoon for him.”
The club’s recent victory sees them climb to seventh place in the Championship table on 19 points.
OPINION
Admittedly the referee had a tough game because the match ended up being incredibly physical from start to finish. Steve Bruce will understandably back his defender but it is no secret that Neil Taylor can be somewhat of a liability. Back in March the left-back fouled Irish skipper and Everton man Seamus Coleman while on international duty with Wales and ended up breaking his leg. Coleman remains out of action nearly seven months later, and Taylor’s challenge on Le Fondre could’ve potentially been damaging too.