Red card fair for horror Britos tackle, admits Silva
MIGUEL BRITOS committed possibly the worst challenge that will be seen this season, then had the audacity to protest his innocence and argue as he walked to the tunnel.
Watford were down to 10 men for more than an hour after Uruguayan Britos went airborne to stick his studs into Anthony Knockaert, receiving a third red card in his last 20 Premier League matches.
Gary Lineker labelled it the “most horrendous” challenge while former Tottenham forward Garth Crooks said: ‘I have not seen a tackle like that in 40 years.’
It looked worthy of a red in real time and even worse with each replay. ‘It’s a red card,’ said Watford manager Marco Silva. ‘A fair red card as well.
‘It was a really important moment of the match. It changed everything in the way we play.’
Did Britos at least apologise? ‘It’s not important what he said,’ Silva said. ‘He talked to his teammates and what he said we keep in our dressing room.’
As for Brighton, they will consider this two points dropped. The Seagulls hit the woodwork twice and have now failed to score in their first three league fixtures for the first time since 1928-29.
Their single point takes them out of the Premier League’s relegation zone but the tackle remained the talking point for Chris Hughton afterwards.
‘I haven’t seen it again but I don’t think I need to,’ Hughton said. ‘It was a two-footed dangerous challenge that has caught Anthony. It’s not as if WatfOrd (4-3-3): Gomes 7; Femenia 6.5, Prodl 7, Kabasele 7, Britos 3; Doucoure 7, Cleverley 7.5, Chalobah 6.5; Richardlison 5.5, Gray 5.5 (Deeney 83min), Amrabat 6 (Cathcart 28, 6) (Caprillo 47, 6). Subs not used: Pantilimon, Success, Watson, Capoue. Sent off: Britos (24min). BriGHtOn (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Bruno 5.5 (Rosenior 45, 6), Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Suttner 6; Knockaert 6.5 (Izquierdo 80), Stephens 6, Propper 6, March 6.5; Gross 6 (Murphy 90); Hemed 6.5. Subs not used: Maenpaa, Hunemeier, Sidwell, Skalak. Booked: Bruno. referee: G Scott 7.