Boro boss believes ex-Stevenage defender should have seen red after ‘leg-breaker’ challenge on Chris Beardsley

BORO boss Graham Westley said he was surprised to see Stevenage old boy Efe Sodje stay on the pitch after a ‘leg-breaker’ tackle on Chris Beardsley on Saturday.

The Bury defender went in hard on Boro substitute Beardsley towards the end of the 3-3 encounter and was only shown a yellow card by match official Chris Sarginson, who also failed to send off Bury goalkeeper Cameron Belford in the first half for a foul on Byron Harrison.

Speaking after the game Westley said he had been left frustrated that Sodje saw yellow when the previous week the Boro manager had seen two of his own players sent off at Northampton, with the club failing in their attempt to appeal both decisions during the week.

“I think my head in my hands (after the Sodje tackle) was more about the challenge Beardsley was hit with,” Westley said.

“I lost Foster despite the appeal, and I lost Mousinho despite the appeal, and I look at that challenge and to me it was a leg-breaker.

“The boy stayed on the pitch with a yellow card and I just put my head in my hand in sheer frustration.”