Williams backs red card for Teddy

By Carl Marston

TEDDY Sheringham's red card shocker summed up a disappointing afternoon for lack-lustre Colchester United at Coventry on Saturday.

Former England star Sheringham was sent off deep into injury-time for violent conduct after lashing out at Sky Blues skipper Michael Doyle.

Manager Geraint Williams had no complaints with referee Ray Lee's decision to show Sheringham the red card, although he felt that his side were unlucky to lose to Michael Mifsud's deflected 81st minute winner.

Williams admitted: “Teddy is an experienced player and he should have known better, but everyone gets frustrated.

“He seemed to catch the lad with an arm and he gave the referee little choice. I have no complaints with the red card and it's a pity because we will now miss him for three matches. The referee had no option.

“Teddy's been out for a while (hamstring injury), and he was desperate to get out there and play. But now we will be robbed of him for a few games,” added Williams, who had introduced Sheringham as a substitute on the hour mark.

Of the 1-0 defeat, Williams commented: “It was a poor game, and that's as poor as we've been, both in terms of passing and creating. It was frustrating to lose at the end because we had defended so well.

“It looked like a 0-0 game. Our defence looked comfortable and was very impressive. They coped well with the different kinds of threats posed by the opposition.

“Games are won and lost on little things. We didn't take our chances at one end, while we gave the ball away and a little deflection at the other end cost us.

“I thought that physically we were OK after the disappointment of losing at Ipswich in midweek, but perhaps mentally we were jaded. It's becoming a sickening theme of this season, but again it's a game that we should have got something out of,”said Williams.