Appleton to appeal Edun red card as Lincoln held by Gillingham

Posted Sunday, February 23, 2020 by PA

Michael Appleton will try and overturn Tayo Edun’s red card after Lincoln’s 0-0 draw with Gillingham.

The left-back saw red in the final minute of normal time following an off-the-ball altercation with Gills forward Brandon Hanlan.

Appleton watched the incident back before facing the media and insisted Edun was hard done by.

“I’ve watched it back and it’s never a booking in any game of football ever,” he said.

“We will appeal it. We probably won’t win, but I wouldn’t be doing my job and I wouldn’t be fair on him if I didn’t try and back him.”

A draw was a fair reflection on a game played in a howling wind.

Appleton was pleased with the way his young side competed against a strong and in-form Gills side.

“First and foremost, I’m glad we kept a clean sheet,” said Appleton.

“That was important. Apart from corners and free-kicks, I didn’t see us conceding a goal.

“The conditions suited them more in the second half and we had to win some big headers.

“I’m delighted with the commitment the boys showed. There were a lot of young lads out there and that type of game will do them a lot of good. I thought that was as aggressive as we’ve been out of possession since I’ve been here.

“And I thought we showed some good quality at times on a difficult surface.

“It is a good point for a number of reasons. After the run we’ve been on, it would have been easy to go under late in a game. Going down to 10 men late on added to the drama. It will be a good point.”

Gills boss Steve Evans was also unhappy with some of referee Tom Nield’s decisions.

“The wind obviously spoilt it,” said Evans.

“It was a game of two halves and in the first half we had to defend it [the wind]. We did that relatively well. They only had one half-chance at the back stick [when Anthony Scully volleyed wide].

“In the second half, we had the advantage of the weather.”

Evans claimed he had to remind the referee Edun had already been booked ahead of his dismissal.

“It’s a tough afternoon when you have to point out there’s a second yellow to the same player. If you don’t he stays on the pitch,” he said.

“So that was disappointing and I’ve seen two challenges, one near the touchline in the first half. I’m not going to name the player because he knows who he is.

“And there was the one near the end by Michael Bostwick on Regan Charles-Cook. They were both disgraceful, they have no place in football, yet both players stayed on the pitch.”