Sent-off Penn ruled out of Heed Cup tie
GATESHEAD have suffered a setback ahead their big FA Cup secondround tie against Luton Town at the International Stadium on Sunday.
While the free-scoring Hatters consolidated top spot in League Two with victory at Crewe 10-man Gateshead had to settle for a draw at Solihull Moors.
The Heed were on course for a third consecutive away win at Vanarama National League bottom club Solihull when they were reduced to ten men.
Their most experienced player and key performer in the engine room, Russell Penn, contrived to pick up two bookings in a minute.
The first, for kicking the ball away, was enough to rule the 32-year-old out of the Luton clash, the Midlander clearly frustrated.
The former Cheltenham and York schemer then left one on Moors’ captain Darren Carter in an unnecessary late challenge in midfield.
That left Gateshead to play almost an hour a man light, Solihull levelling midway through the second half through former Heed loanee Wes Atkinson.
It was two points dropped rather than one gained, despite a gutsy display with ten men, manager Steve Watson (right) bitterly disappointed with Penn’s early bath.
Penn and Luke Hannant, out with a back injury, were both one booking away from a onegame suspension.
Hannant should be okay to face Luton along with captain Neill Byrne, who was take off as a precaution early in the second half. Watson said: “Penn was having a really good game and if he had got through the game the yellow cards would have been wiped out anyway.
“He will be frustrated about that but no one will know more than him you cannot react like that and he gave the referee an easy decision to make.
“He has apologised to everybody.
“It was out of character for a player with plenty of experience, who is one of our leaders.
“Everyone makes mistakes and no one will be hurting more then Penn himself after we did not hang on for the victory.
“Having to miss the Luton game after he picked up his first booking is what angered him the most.
“It was very difficult in the second half, down to ten men and against a team fighting for their lives and disappointing not to win.”
A Carter foul on JJ O’Donnell saw Jordan Burrow give Gateshead a 13th-minute lead from the spot, Richard Peniket then hitting a post.
Rock-bottom Solihull avoided a fifth straight defeat on home soil when debutant Atkinson headed a 66th-minute equaliser from Courtney Richards’ cross.