Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Symes hits out at 'elbow' claims
MICHAEL Symes hit back at criticism from Brighton boss Gus Poyet after a stormy clash at Withdean. Poyet accused Symes of elbowing Seagulls defender Tommy Elphick as Cherries left East Sussex with a lucky 1-1 draw. Assistant referee John Farries awarded Eddie Howe's men a controversial late penalty after Elphick appeared to handle under pressure from substitute Steve Fletcher, but the offence looked to be marginally outside the home side's penalty area. Despite initially awarding a free kick to the visitors, though, referee Darren Sheldrake changed his mind after Farries flagged for the spot kick, which Marc Pugh converted deep in stoppage time. Kazenga LuaLua had handed Poyet's side a deserved lead after an hour of dire football in front of the Sky Sports cameras. But as well as slamming both Sheldrake and Farries, Poyet also felt Symes should have seen red after the former Accrington frontman appeared to strike Elphick with a stray elbow. Sheldrake opted for a yellow card. Symes had earlier caught goalkeeper Casper Ankergren with his boot, breaking the Danish stopper's nose. When asked by the Echo for his opinion on both incidents, Poyet said: I was far away from the incident with the goalkeeper. I put myself in that position and I'm hit in the face, I think that is football. You can watch it and analyse it if you need to, but who knows. The other one was a little more clear. It's either nothing or a red card. Simple. If it is nothing or red then I would accept it, but I don't accept a yellow card. That is something the referee does when he thinks he can make everybody happy. I would have been happier if the referee had given nothing because then you know he didn't deserve anything. Before, he nearly killed our goalkeeper. I don't think the referee knew it was the same player because if I was the referee and I saw the second one, I would send him off. But I'm not a referee. Symes, who was substituted to a chorus of boos a jeers from the home support, told the Echo: The keeper just came running out and slid into my boot. I had my eyes on the ball for the second one and he just started screaming for some reason. I didn't catch him. If I had caught him, he would have been on the floor. If I'd caught him with my elbow, he wouldn't have been on his feet running at me. I didn't go out to catch him. Cherries boss Howe added: I know Symesy. He's a gentle giant and wouldn't go out to hurt anybody and, if he has caught someone, it's by pure accident. ¢ Cherries star Rhoys Wiggins has been drafted into the Wales squad. The left-back, who is yet to win a full international cap, could feature in tomorrow's Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland. The London-born defender, who qualifies to play for Wales as his father is Welsh, has been capped 16 times at under-21 and under-19 level.