Source: Team_Talk
City plan appeal against Balotelli red
Roberto Mancini confirmed Manchester City will be appealing against match-winner Mario Balotelli's red card in their 2-0 win over West Brom.[LNB] Balotelli eased some of the pressure on his manager and fellow Italian by netting two goals in the first half which eventually proved enough to halt City's run of three successive defeats.[LNB]But the 20-year-old's afternoon turned sour after the break as he received a yellow card for a challenge on Marek Cech and was then given his marching orders within minutes following a tangle with Youssouf Mulumbu - who was also dismissed late on for scything down Carlos Tevez.[LNB]The straight red card shown to Balotelli left Mancini enraged and demanding an explanation from referee Lee Probert.[LNB]"I absolutely do not agree with the referee about this sending-off," Mancini said.[LNB]"A red card for what? He played a fantastic game, he scored two goals, but the sending-off was very strange.[LNB]"I want to know why it was a direct red card. For me this is not correct and the referee must explain."[LNB]City will be pursuing the matter further, with Mancini rejecting suggestions that the player may have kicked out at Mulumbu.[LNB]Balotelli has a reputation for being a fiery character, though, and Mancini conceded that having had a chat with the striker before the game about keeping calm, he had been about to withdraw him from an increasingly tempestuous game when the sending-off occurred.[LNB]"I am angry because I explained to him before the game - pay attention with the referee," Mancini said.[LNB]"I wanted to change Adam Johnson for Mario, but I didn't have time to make the change."[LNB]Prior to that, Balotelli - in front of watching Italy boss Cesare Prandelli - had notched his first Premier League goals by combining well with David Silva and City captain Tevez, who was back in the side after his two-match injury lay-off in Argentina.[LNB]It was a typically influential display from the skipper as Mancini's side recovered from their recent struggles to go level on points with third-placed Arsenal, three behind Manchester United - their opponents in the forthcoming derby at Eastlands on Wednesday - and five behind leaders Chelsea.[LNB]"We played a fantastic game - we played football very well, all the team," Mancini said.[LNB]"We scored two goals and we could have scored another two. For us, Carlos is very important up front. I am very happy with the result."[LNB]West Brom have now picked up three red cards in a week, after they were reduced to nine men at Blackpool on Monday.[LNB]While Pablo Ibanez's was rescinded following an appeal, Roberto Di Matteo had no complaints about the decision to send Gonzalo Jara off in that match and was similarly accepting that Mulumbu deserved to go here - although he also felt there was nothing wrong with Balotelli's dismissal.[LNB]"I think the referee was in a good position on the (Balotelli) sending-off," Di Matteo said.[LNB]"My player wasn't happy with the challenge and the official was there.[LNB]"In terms of the second one, for my player, I think there was no doubt about it."[LNB]The defeat was Albion's first at home in the league since January and Di Matteo believes his side were beaten by a squad of players - with City able to name the likes of James Milner, Emmanuel Adebayor and Johnson as substitutes today - who can still challenge for the title.[LNB]"I think they definitely are (contenders), if you look at the amount of quality players they have," he said.[LNB]"I don't know if you noticed the bench they had today - the players that can come on and change a game, and the ones they have on the pitch already."[LNB]West Brom have now picked up three red cards in a week, after they were reduced to nine men at Blackpool on Monday.[LNB]While Pablo Ibanez's was rescinded following an appeal, Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo had no complaints about the decision to send Gonzalo Jara off in that match and was similarly accepting that Mulumbu deserved to go today - although he also felt there was nothing wrong with Balotelli's dismissal.[LNB]"I think the referee was in a good position on the (Balotelli) sending-off," Di Matteo said.[LNB]"My player wasn't happy with the challenge and the official was there.[LNB]"In terms of the second one, for my player, I think there was no doubt about it."[LNB]The defeat was Albion's first at home in the league since January and Di Matteo believes his side were beaten by a squad of players - with City able to name the likes of James Milner, Emmanuel Adebayor and Johnson as substitutes today - who can still challenge for the title.[LNB]"I think they definitely are (contenders), if you look at the amount of quality players they have," he said.[LNB]"I don't know if you noticed the bench they had today - the players that can come on and change a game, and the ones they have on the pitch already."
