Bournemouth man Jefferson Lerman should have seen red for his challenge on Cardiff City man Ciaron Brown, Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy believes.
Scott Parker’s side ran out 1-0 winners on Saturday afternoon, defeating Cardiff City to maintain their undefeated start to the season and move to the top of the Championship table.
Philip Billing’s second-half goal was the difference between Bournemouth and the Bluebirds, but tempers flared somewhat not long before the decisive goal after Jefferson Lerma’s challenge on Ciaron Brown.
Now, following the game, Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy has said he believes the Colombian should have been sent off for the tackle.
READ: Bournemouth man reveals he turned down Premier League offers in the summer transfer window
As quoted by the Bournemouth Daily Echo, McCarthy insisted that while he knows Lerma didn’t mean it, he should have seen red.
The Cardiff boss labelled the challenge as “naughty”, adding that although it made it easier after watching a replay, he thought it was a bad tackle when it happened shortly after the restart.
Here’s what he had to say on the matter:
“I’m not suggesting for one minute he meant it, he was trying to win the ball and he was excellent.
“But I’ve seen it back, and it’s a red card in my mind.
“If you go in like that out of control and catch a player on his shins it’s a red card.
“The referee made his decision on what he saw, we all get things right, we all get things wrong. I thought it was a bad tackle at the time. But it’s a naughty old tackle.”
Bournemouth prevail
With Lerma remaining on the pitch and Danish international Billing scoring the winning goal, it was the Cherries who took all three points from Saturday’s clash.
While the win puts Parker’s side at the top of the table, McCarthy’s Bluebirds have now lost three of their last four games.
They will get the chance to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat against Blackburn Rovers next weekend, while Bournemouth host Luton Town.
