Ref was right over double red – Glenn

Glenn Roeder has admitted to a change of heart over City's double sending-off at Coventry on Saturday. City finished the game with nine men after defender Gary Doherty and midfielder Darel Russell each picked up two yellows cards, leaving Roeder critical of referee Paul Taylor key decisions.

Glenn Roeder has admitted to a change of heart over City's double sending-off at Coventry on Saturday.

City finished the game with nine men after defender Gary Doherty and midfielder Darel Russell each picked up two yellows cards, leaving Roeder critical of referee Paul Taylor's key decisions.

However, by yesterday morning Roeder - who had received an apology from Russell for his second sending off in consecutive games - admitted his view had changed.

"He was genuinely upset, but both tackles were unnecessary," Roeder said. "As much as I thought the referee was desperately poor over the 90 minutes - in fact I didn't think he was that good - yes, looking at them he had little option really.

"You would like to think common sense would be used, but with assessors sitting in the stand and all the problems they cause referees, they seem to be frightened to apply common sense.

"There were fouls and Doc's was from behind and Rusty's - the lad was starting to get away from him and he brought him down. He's just missed three games, now he's going to miss another two."

Russell misses a clash against his former club, Stoke, tonight and the trip to Sheffield United on Saturday, while the FA yesterday clarified that Doherty's punishment would be just the one game.

However, Roeder declined to reveal whether or not either player would face club fines.

"There are club rules that encompass bookings for arguing with referees and sendings-off, so there is the facility to fine players at the manager's discretion, but anything I do I would prefer to keep in house," said Roeder. "But I was disappointed with the two decisions to make tackles when they did."