Tindall’s men red ’n’ buried

BOURNEMOUTH lost ground to leaders norwich as they were beaten 1-0 at home by LUTON after playing for more than an hour with 10 men. Jefferson Lerma was sent off when he caught defender Tom Lockyer in the face with a flailing arm after being knocked off balance by Luke Berry. Lockyer (below) was left with blood pouring from a cut above his left eye and was forced off. But Bournemouth fumed at the red card and it proved costly when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall won the contest for Luton halfway through the second period. Cherries boss Jason Tindall said of Lerma’s red: ‘it was an outrageous decision. i didn’t think the ref was going to give a red card, then he has reacted to a bit of blood.’ NORWICH overcame Covid and CARDIFF to take another giant stride back towards the premier League. Four players and five members of Daniel Farke’s support staff missed the trip after testing positive. The Championship leaders led after three minutes when captain Grant Hanley headed home and Todd Cantwell volleyed in the second. Cardiff, who wore shirts with the message, ‘We fight with you’, in the warm-up to show support for cancer-suffering defender sol Bamba, scored through Joe ralls. Farke said: ‘i’m proud. To win in the circumstances was outstanding.’ Tom Cleverley and Joao pedro scored as WATFORD beat HUDDERSFIELD to cement their place in the top six. seventh-placed MIDDLESBROUGH failed to further their play-off ambitions after a home defeat to BIRMINGHAM, who won for the first time in seven outings. scott Hogan’s tap-in on 26 minutes settled it at the riverside stadium and put seven points between Aitor Karanka’s team and the relegation places. ‘i don’t think we would have scored if we had been playing until sunday,’ moaned Boro boss neil Warnock. NOTTINGHAM FOREST beat MILLWALL 3-1 to ease away from the drop zone. Millwall have won just one of their last 15 Championship games.