Tuesday Feb 26 2008 13:38
Barnet midfielder Michael Leary insists he did not mean to elbow Keith Andrews during Saturday's tempestuous 2-0 defeat to MK Dons.
The 24-year-old was dismissed after Andrews suffered a broken nose in the incident and the Dons captain also had to be stopped from retaliating.
However, Leary told the Bees' official website: "There was no intent on my part to elbow the MK Dons player.
"The incident happened just after I was cracked on the head and knocked unconscious. It may have seemed like retaliation, but I saw the ball in the air to be won and it's an instinctive action to raise your hands.
"I've never been sent off before and now it's occurred twice in consecutive games which has deeply shocked me."
The former Luton Town player was featuring in his first game after serving his suspension for the red card he was handed in last month's FA Cup clash with Swindon Town.
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