Mepham left ‘devastated’ by red card
BOURNEMOUTH boss Jonathan Woodgate says Wales defender Chris Mepham was “absolutely devastated” following his red card against Brentford on Saturday.
The centre-back was given his marching orders after hauling down Bryan Mbeumo after 28 minutes in almost comical fashion.
Woodgate says it is time for the Cherries faithful and players to get behind the Welshman.
“Obviously Meps is absolutely devastated after the game and we’ve got to get behind him,” said Woodgate.
“We all make mistakes. We’re only human beings at the end of the day.
“So it’s important that Meps learns from that and he’s got to get on with that.
“Okay, you can make that error, but then don’t bring him (Mbeumo) down. Let him go through. Because then it’s two mistakes.
“He brings him down and then it’s a red. Let Asmir try and save it.”
He added: “Listen, it’s been difficult for him. I’m not going to come in and say anything nastily about him.
“We’re all human and we make mistakes.
“I’ve made plenty before in my career when I was a player and it happens. It’s a tough time for him, it really is.”
Meanwhile, Brentford centre-back Pontus Jansson has warned Swansea City that the Bees are in a better position now than a year ago when the lost the play-off final to Fulham.
The West Londoners defeated Swansea in the semi-finals last year but the two sides meet at Wembley this term.
Jansson believes they are far better placed now for the experience of another season under their belts and labelled them “a machine”.
“Last year we were a very inexperienced team,” he said. “Only one or two people had been in that position before but now we have more leaders.
“We are more mature, we’re more ready for it.
“Christian [Norgaard], one of our best players, got injured in the warmup [against Bournemouth]. We didn’t even care – we threw in someone else and we went again.
“Christian said to me only yesterday that we went unbeaten for 21 games earlier in the season without him.
“We are just a machine and keep going whatever happens.”