Royle: The Red Card Changed The game - We Deserved More

Last updated : 29 November 2005 By Russell Claydon
The Town boss said: "We were terrific in the first half and created three or four good chances. I was unhappy with the sending off as there was very little contact and feel very hard done by even though we were stretched a little in the second half.

"It was a dodgy penalty decision and we saved that, but playing most of the game with 10 men has cost us.

"It's time that the officials become aware of players who fall to the ground too easily. Fabian swears he didn't touch the player, yet he did enough to send a 14st athlete crashing to the ground.

"The same thing happened later in the match and obviously the red card changed the game plan for us.

"We had to move Bam Bam back into the defence but, that said, we bossed the first half and could easily have gone in at the break in front.

"We paid for two defensive lapses again, though. I thought we had a point with Jimmy Juan's goal but they nicked it at the end and that was very cruel on us.

"Lewis made some decent saves when they caught us on the break, but overall I thought we were hard done by."

It was Cardiff's first win over the Town in 40 years and Bluebirds boss Dave Jones thought it was a case of just rewards after the reverse at Portman Road, back in August. "We went to Ipswich and played well without getting anything from the game and tonight we have made up for it."

Wilnis was dismissed in the 13th minute, after he was adjudged by Andre Marrier to have pulled Camerone Jerome down, when through on goal. The 35 year old thought his second red card in an Ipswich shirt was a terrible decision, however and wants the club to appeal: "Honest to god, I never touched the player. My arm went across him as a normal reaction when you are going for the ball and to keep my balance.

"I never pushed the player, pulled him, held him or anything, yet he went down as though he had been shot.

"I have to speak to the gaffer but I hope we will appeal because I have not done anything wrong and don't deserve to miss a game for that.

"If I pulled the player down I would admit it, but it never happened. I'm really disappointed by the whole thing and just hope the referee will look at the video and say he made a mistake."

Lewis Price, who was outstanding, saved the resultant penalty but the dissmisal of Wilnis forced Town to revert to a 4-4-1 formation, with Richard Naylor dropping back into defence.