Source: Daily_Mail
O'Neill appeals red card as Villa boss insists Brad tried to get out of way
Aston Villa have appealed against the red card shown to goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool.
Villa were already trailing 4-0 when Friedel was dismissed by Martin Atkinson for bringing down Fernando Torres inside the area after 65 minutes.
However, the American argued he went for a 50-50 ball and had nowhere else to go after Torres got their first.
Suspension would bring an end to the U.S. keeper's Premier League appearance record.
Do you agree with the sending off? Leave your comments below...He has been handed a one-match ban and would miss the trip to Manchester United next month - ending a run of 182 successive top-flight games.
O'Neill feels Friedel was trying to avoid Torres rather than bring the Spain striker down and will try to get referee Martin Atkinson's decision overturned.
'I've seen the sending off from a better angle and, from Brad's point of view, I don't think he's gone out and made a deliberate attempt to upend him,' said O'Neill.
'In fact, quite the opposite. When Torres touched the ball on, Brad realised he wasn't going to get it and actually made himself smaller.
'The fact is that the referee interpreted it as a penalty and added the sending off on top of that.'
