SUNDERLAND BOSS MARTIN O’Neill has defended midfielder David Meyler against accusations he play-acted to get Robert Huth sent off at the weekend.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis lashed out at the young Corkman after his side lost 1-0 to the Black Cats at the Britannia Stadium, Meyler having been sent hurtling to the ground after coming into contact with the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough defender.
O’Neill said: “First of all, I understand what Tony was saying from a general viewpoint because players do have a responsibility to try to keep fellow players on the field of play.
“I hadn’t had a chance to see the incident until Sunday. I saw it and I still have exactly the same opinion, it’s a reckless challenge.
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“It’s one that the referee sees very, very quickly and his opinion of it was my opinion at the time, that it was a red card.
“Now obviously, you can see he [Huth] has attempted to pull out at the end, but that’s something the referee can’t see in a split-second, and he still catches Meyler, and Meyler on the way down has hurt himself.
“This idea that Meyler feigned an injury – I’m sorry, I know David and David is as brave as they come.
“He has had two horrendous injuries himself that he is just recovering from, so from that viewpoint I think Tony is wrong.
“His general viewpoint about players having responsibility themselves to stop play-acting, I totally agree with that point, but not in this case with David Meyler.”
O'Neill defends David Meyler over allegations of play-acting
SUNDERLAND BOSS MARTIN O’Neill has defended midfielder David Meyler against accusations he play-acted to get Robert Huth sent off at the weekend.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis lashed out at the young Corkman after his side lost 1-0 to the Black Cats at the Britannia Stadium, Meyler having been sent hurtling to the ground after coming into contact with the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough defender.
O’Neill said: “First of all, I understand what Tony was saying from a general viewpoint because players do have a responsibility to try to keep fellow players on the field of play.
“It’s one that the referee sees very, very quickly and his opinion of it was my opinion at the time, that it was a red card.
“Now obviously, you can see he [Huth] has attempted to pull out at the end, but that’s something the referee can’t see in a split-second, and he still catches Meyler, and Meyler on the way down has hurt himself.
“This idea that Meyler feigned an injury – I’m sorry, I know David and David is as brave as they come.
“His general viewpoint about players having responsibility themselves to stop play-acting, I totally agree with that point, but not in this case with David Meyler.”
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David Meyler Diving Row FA Premier League Robert Huth Sending Off Stoke Sunderland