Source: PA
Lambert support for Gunnarsson
Coventry midfielder Aron Gunnarsson was unlucky to be sent off during Saturday`s 2-1 defeat to Norwich, according to Canaries boss Paul Lambert.
The Iceland international lost his footing on the slippery Ricoh Arena surface before lunging in on Henri Lansbury in an attempt to win the ball, resulting in a straight red.
Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd felt the decision was correct, although he defended Gunnarsson by adding: "Aron wasn't malicious. It is not his way. He's the nicest Viking I have ever met. He's not done anything with intent."
Yet, with refreshing honesty, opposite number Lambert admitted: "I think the sending off was harsh. The conditions might have played a part and there was no malice in it. If I was Aidy, I would probably feel a bit aggrieved because I am not so sure it was a sending off."
Boothroyd praised his side`s resilience during the encounter but he was left to rue a rare lapse in defense which cost his side a share of the spoils, with Grant Holt taking advantage of a fortunate deflection and some wayward marking to fire home his 87th-minute winner.
"We had to defend for long periods. I thought there was an assurance about us," added the Coventry manager. "Against teams like Norwich who have good possession some teams will cave in but we didn't. We were resolute and dogged and the longer games go on we grind teams down, but we didn't do that because of a defensive mistake."
