‘He couldn’t wait to get his red card out!’ - Former Birmingham City duo react to Ryan Woods red card

Former Birmingham City striker’s Kevin Phillips and Clinton Morrison have had their say on the controversial red card that Ryan Woods received in Blues’ 0-0 draw with Coventry City on Tuesday.

Woods was sent off with just under 10 minutes to play for bringing down Ian Maatsen on the half-way line as the latter was trying to force a Coventry break.

And just as everyone was applauding the Blues midfielder for ‘taking one for the team,’ referee Leigh Doughty brandished his red card, much to the surprise of the majority of spectators within the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Speaking via Sky Sports after the game, Phillips and Morrison were both in agreement that Woods should never have been sent off for a challenge ‘you see every week.’

“As soon as he breaks here, listen me and Clinton have played the game a long time - that was always going to happen,” Phillips said.

“And for me, to come out and say that’s serious foul play? I’d love to ask the referee and see why.

“It’s not going to break his leg, all it’s going to do is make him trip over. He’s just caught his leg. It’s a booking.

“Why can’t the fourth official who’s in line with it, radio into his ear and say ‘it’s not a red card’ - he couldn’t wait to get his red card out!

“For me, it’s a ridiculous decision.”

And Morrison, who played for the Blues between 2002-2005 agreed.

The former striker claimed that he’s normally always on the side of the official but the decision to send Woods off was something that he couldn’t possibly defend.

“He didn’t catch him high enough [for it to be a red],” Morrison added.

“Maybe from a different angle you can see it and the angle the referee was coming at but no. That’s never a red card.

“If I was Woods I’d be feeling really aggrieved. No chance!

“He clips him on the bottom of the boot and he falls down. I don’t even think it’s dangerous, I was going to sit here and try to defend the referee - I can’t defend the referee it’s never a red card.

“Even Woods, look at his reaction, he’s laughing!”

Manager Lee Bowyer was perplexed by the decision in his post-match interview and it would be no surprise to see him appeal it before Blues host Blackpool at St Andrew’s on Saturday.