‘NEIL IS DEVASTATED... BUT THAT’S NOT GOING TO MAKE SEAMUS FEEL ANY BETTER’

WALES CAMP COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF UNDER-FIRE TAYLOR

JOHN O’Shea has claimed he was lucky he didn’t end up breaking his leg after insisting there should have been TWO red cards in Dublin – with Gareth Bale joining Neil Taylor in getting Aviva marching orders.

Taylor saw red when his reckless challenge left Seamus Coleman in agony and doctors confirming the ugly incident left the Everton star with a broken leg.

The incident came just minutes after the sell-out home crowd were baying for Bale to be sent off when he caught Sunderland defender O’Shea when he stretched to meet a cross in the tense qualifying stalemate.

Irish observers were incensed, one citing former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann, who tried to claim the challenge from the Real Madrid man was “cowardly”.

Wales boss Chris Coleman was puzzled by the outrage having not seen a replay and maintaining his initial reaction that Bale had every right to go for the ball with the chance of a goal.

But now O’Shea says he was left needing stitches and he was fortunate not to have been left in the same state as teammate Coleman.

The 35-year-old said: “I was lucky considering what has happened to Seamus. On another night there could have two red cards.

“Maybe it was late but thankfully I’m walking away from it which is no problem.

“I’ve had plenty of stitches put in there but hopefully it will heal quickly.”

But the former Manchester United man denied it was a dirty derby game, adding: “There were some challenges but you expect it within reason. When you’re playing England, Scotland or Wales, the games are going to be like that. They are the games you want to be involved in and be a part of.

“I don’t think it was a dirty game – in a derby game you’re going to expect some tasty tackles, but as I said within reason. There’s no problem getting a hard tackle but if it’s late it’s a different story.”

Taylor’s red with 22 minutes to go saw the advantage handed to the hosts and group leaders, but Wales hung on for the draw.

And O’Shea added: “We’re a little bit disappointed.

“There was very little in the game, and then they’ve gone down to 10 men.

“A few of the boys were a little bit shocked when they saw Seamus’ leg but it was all us in the last 20 minutes but we were hoping to create more clear-cut chances.”