An entertaining 3-3 draw was far more excitement than most expected for this end-of-season game, but the major talking point will undoubtedly be the unlikely and unwanted scenes at the end of the match.
Cardiff had equalised for the second time to grab a late point as captain Darren Purse, in for Roger Johnson, lost possession on halfway. The skipper then lunged at Andrew Cole and produced a nasty looking tackle. Purse received a straight red card and a tongue lashing from Cole.
The came the strange part. Cole clearly felt he hadn’t got his point across and sprinted after Purse down the tunnel. I’m sure Cole wasn’t dismissed too and he certainly moved fast if he was injured. Either way, he left his team-mates to finish with 10 men.
Hasselbaink then got involved and followed down the tunnel, along with numerous substitutes and then the police.
From then is guesswork but the trouble calmed shortly afterwards and hopefully no further action will be necessary. Darren Purse, pending appeal, will get an automatic 3 match ban for violent conduct and will now miss the FA Cup final. I’m sure this ban would not be over-turned so Cardiff will have no defensive cover for the final.
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Purse will be missed as defence will be tested by Pompey’s power and pace.
Purse has barely featured this season and is way behind Johnson and Loovens
if johnson or loovens get injured then no cover
if this is our captain leading by example then he’s just signed his own transfer request. why oh why after spending much of the season on the bench or doctors table would you be so stupid as to put a tackle like that in, even if it was 50/50, he’s now gonna miss an FA CUP FINAL!! even if he was only gonna be a sub. Not only has he let himself down but the whole team and us fans to.
everyone makes mistakes and i dont think hes let the fans or players down, hes now our vice captin because of mcphail. and to jamie_r’s comment i disagree, personaly i think your totaly wrong because if johnson or loovens are out, we can place blake at center back, or mcnaughton centre back and ramsey right back, not a good choice but we have got cover
Purse is captain when he plays, McPhail is vice-captain. Also Darcy Blake must not be played at centre-back – absolutely not. McNaughton is not comfortable there and does not have the aerial ability
okay then, saying loovens and johnson get injured, and purse is unavailable, what would your defence be then bluebirdshroom, seeing as you wouldnt use the only cover we had, please en-lighten me
lol, thats absurd! My centre-backs in order would be: Johnson, Loovens, Purse, McNaughton, Scimeca. If we get past that, then we’re really looking desperate!
yes bbshroom, i said if johnson and loovens and purse became unavailable, then by defence would be in the way i said it, i would much rather prefer, mcnaughton, loovens purse, johnson(at right back)