Source: PA
Nolan defends `honest' Taylor
Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan leapt to the defence of team-mate Ryan Taylor following his sending-off against Bolton.
The former Wigan man received his marching orders for a 54th-minute two-footed tackle on Johan Elmander which left his side facing a lengthy battle to claim a point.
Manager Alan Pardew was quick to insist he would not punish the 26-year-old further for a challenge he described as "over-zealous" rather than malicious.
And, while Nolan admitted referee Chris Foy had little choice but to produce the red card, he too backed his team-mate.
He said: "Ryan's an honest lad and it was an honest tackle, as far as I am concerned.
"The boy went down like he had been shot, which is not nice because two minutes later, he got up and he was running around like a madman. That's what we don't like about it. But at the end of the day, it was two-footed and we have got no complaints. But Ryan being the honest lad he is, we know that he is never going to hurt or try to hurt anybody ever, and I felt for a fellow professional."
