Curbs calls for card review
10 Feb 2008 - 10:40:25
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley believes referee Mark Clattenburg will review the red card he handed out to Lee Bowyer towards the end of the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.
The midfielder was handed his marching orders for a perceived two-footed lunge at home captain Damien Johnson in the 88th minute of a keenly-contested clash at St Andrew's.
However, Curbishley felt the punishment was harsh and he believes the referee will take another look at the incident with a view to rescinding the straight red card.
Freddie Ljungberg's first goal for the Hammers in the first half was cancelled out by a James McFadden penalty in the 1-1 stalemate.
"We have asked Mark to look at it, and we think he will," he revealed. "Hopefully he will overturn it.
"When it happened I did not think it was that serious, but on the spot, the referee sees it different.
"I think Johnson has come in and both of his feet have connected with the ball, so I don't know if Bowyer has gone above it. We will have to wait and see.
"If he is suspended, it is a bit tough and we could do with a suspension least of all with the injuries we have got."