Wednesday found themselves victims of a shocking red card decision as they took a point from table-topping Hull in a goalless draw at the KC Stadium tonight.
Fernando Forestieri, who had been booked on 85 minutes, was sent tumbling to the ground by a reckless challenge from Michael Dawson in added time. The Hull defender acknowledged the foul and waited for a yellow card, only for referee Tim Robinson to give a second yellow to Forestieri for supposedly diving.
Even more infuriating is the fact that Wednesday cannot appeal the sending off decision, as it was for two yellow cards, and that means he faces a two-match ban for the games at home to Rotherham and then at Brighton.
Carlos Carvalhal said afterwards: “Fernando has not faked anything – it is unbelievable. Look at the reaction of the defender.”
Carvalhal said Forestieri had to jump out of the way of the challenge, otherwise he could have suffered a broken leg, and called on referees to show common sense with regard to such tackles on creative players.
He added that the authorities should be able to review such decisions when a player wrongly receives two yellows, particularly as this is the second time in two games that Forestieri has been dismissed in controversial circumstances.
Rival boss Steve Bruce agreed with Carvalhal, saying: “It’s a poor decision. I hope some common sense prevails but as it stands you can’t appeal two yellow cards.”
Wednesday were the better team in the first half and almost took the lead when Forestieri’s cracking 25-yarder came back off the crossbar.
The home side dominated after the break and Sam Clucas saw his effort hit an upright but we held out for a valuable point, despite Forestieri’s late dismissal.
Carvalhal said: “We created some danger in the first half but they were better than us in the second half when we lost some energy.”
The point keeps us in sixth place, two points behind fifth-placed Derby, and four ahead of Birmingham who have two games in hand. The Rams travel to Wolves tomorrow in a lunchtime kick off while Birmingham are at QPR.