Kitson fury at Upson tackle
28 Jan 2007 - 15:35:49
Furious Reading striker Dave Kitson has blasted Matthew Upson and described the tackle he received from the Birmingham City defender in Saturday's FA Cup clash as "shocking".
Kitson scored on his return to the first team in the 3-2 fourth-round victory for the Premiership side at St Andrew's.
But during the game the Royals striker - who has missed most of the season after suffering knee ligament damage following a clash with Middlesbrough's Chris Riggott in August - was on the receiving end of another horror challenge from Upson.
After the match Kitson slammed both Upson for the tackle and referee Phil Dowd for failing to take action.
He said: "I've never really had much protection from referees and I am sure I will never have any.
"This one (Phil Dowd) was a shocker, absolutely terrible, and the tackle from Matthew Upson was on a par with the referee.
"I haven't worked my backside off in the gym, been running for six months, just for him to come back and 'top' me again.
"It was a shocking tackle. He should have been sent off but then Riggott wasn't sent off either.
"I can guarantee if that tackle had been on Wayne Rooney, we would be talking about it for the next month and maybe even more action would have been taken."