QPR’s Gareth Ainsworth backs Jack Colback red card decision against Sunderland but still had a gripe.
QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth has had his say about Jack Colback’s dismissal in the defeat against Sunderland.
QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth has no complaints about Jack Colback’s sending off as Sunderland came from behind to win at Loftus Road. The West London side were leading 1-0 thanks to Kenneth Paal’s early goal when ex-Sunderland and Newcastle United midfielder Colback was shown a straight red card by referee Dean Whitestone for his late lunge on Jobe Bellingham midway through the first half.
And from there the Black Cats turned things around thanks to a deflected Jack Clarke strike in injury-time at the end of the first half, followed by goals in the second period from Dan Ballard and Abdoullah Ba. Asked whether he took issue with the red card, Ainsworth said: “No, I’ve seen the video once and Jack is late.
“Being the competitor he is, he’s going to pick them up and I picked up one or two in my career. He’s honestly competing.
“It was difficult after that because a key part of our midfield. Our players gave their all. It was going to be a tough with eleven – but we were in control and after the first five minutes we were the aggressors.
“The red card changes the game, because we lose a player and it opens up their wide areas. It’s then hard to combat against a team who’ve spent good money and got good players in their team.
“The first goal [which saw Clarke’s shot deflect off the head of defender Steve Cook into his own net] is very lucky. The second and the third are the ones I’m slightly disappointed with, little things like not tracking a runner or dealing with a cross.”
Ainsworth was unhappy at what he felt was the harsh treatment by officials towards striker Sinclair Armstrong, hinting that referees often give fouls against him for just outmuscling defenders. He said: “I just wish Sinclair [Armstrong] would get a few more decisions because he gets the real rough end of the stick.
“He’s so big and powerful and I think there’s pre-conceived ideas about him. People say he fouls a lot but he doesn’t, he’s just stronger than other people.
“He’s getting fouls called against him and then we’re not getting the same decisions at the other end. It’s the consistency I’m complaining about.”
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