Hodgson: Cole devastated by red card

15 August 2010 20:30
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson claimed Joe Cole was "devastated" after he was sent off on his league debut for the Reds. The big-name free transfer from Chelsea was dismissed late in first-half injury time of his new club's season-opening 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Arsenal at Anfield. Liverpool recovered from the setback to take the lead through David Ngog but were denied victory by a last-minute own goal from Jose Reina. Hodgson said: "He is devastated - his debut at Liverpool, fantastic atmosphere, so desperate to do well. "He was not playing at the top of his game, but was trying hard to get to that level, when suddenly he gets sent off. He was saddened by it all and not least because it put us in a difficult situation." Hodgson added: "Maybe that second-half performance deserved all three and not just one, but if someone had said at half-time you'll defend well and get a 0-0 or 1-1 I would probably have accepted that."

Source: PA