Kettlewell hints Motherwell will challenge Vale red card

MOTHERWELL manager Stuart Kettlewell is keen to ensure Jack Vale is available for the coming weeks after disputing the attacker’s dismissal at Aberdeen.

The on-loan Blackburn player looked lively in the first half, setting up two opportunities for the Steelmen with his willingness to run with the ball.

However, Vale was shown a straight red card by referee

Craig Napier in the 56th minute after catching Jack MacKenzie with his boot in the midriff as he brought down a high ball.

Kettlewell described the decision as “laughable” and Motherwell appeared likely to appeal in the immediate aftermath of their 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie.

“Absolutely, from what I’ve seen,” the Motherwell manager said of a potential challenge to the Scottish Football Association. “I hope people will start to see that it’s not so much the ball coming over the shoulder and hooking it, but it’s the force and the speed that the Aberdeen player runs towards our guy.

“Anybody who thinks they can kick a football and your leg doesn’t extend, I would tell you you’ve never played football and you don’t understand.”

Kettlewell added: “He’s a good player, everybody in Scottish football knows how good a player he is.

“I would call him a technician. He’s a clever football player, certainly not an aggressive guy.

“He’s someone we maybe ask to be a bit more aggressive when we don’t have the ball.

“I’ve never seen him come close to trying to make a tackle to hurt an opponent.

“We’ve all seen players who might try to leave something on the opponent, he’s definitely not one of those guys.”