Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has shared his thoughts on Garath’s McCleary’s red card in the 1-1 draw away at Fleetwood Town.
The Jamaican international was given his marching orders just 10 minutes into the match at Highbury Stadium for a swinging arm that hit Drew Baker in the face.
Initially missed by the vast majority of people inside Highbury Stadium, the Cod Army bench alerted the referee, and James Oldham issued McCleary the fourth red card of his career.
10 - Red card for Garath McCleary. An off-the-ball elbow on Drew Baker. Wycombe down to 10. #FTFC #Chairboys
— James Richings (@James_BFP) September 3, 2022
🔴 0-0 🔵
Live at Highbury Stadium: Fleetwood 1-1 Wycombe: McCleary red carded and Muskwe scores
The 34-year-old did not object to the sending off, which was his first since September 2016 when he was playing for Reading.
Speaking on the incident, Ainsworth said: “I haven’t seen it back, but G-Mac has apologised.
“He said he caught him in the face with his arm/hand and if he has, then it’s a red card.
“I am gutted though as he is not like that.
“He is not that type of player, and we know he is not that type of player but we will have to have a look at it.”
The ball was with Stryjek when the incident happened so I didn't see it, but Scott Brown and the Fleetwood bench went crazy. Been confirmed in the press box that it was an elbow. McCleary didn't complain and went straight down the tunnel. #Chairboys #FTFC
— James Richings (@James_BFP) September 3, 2022
The sending off was the first for any Wanderers play since February and for it to have taken place just 10 minutes into the match, the manager admitted that it did impact his side’s game plan.
The last player to be shown a red card for Wycombe was Lewis Wing in the 1-1 draw away at Gillingham in April.
This is the fourth red card of McCleary's career but his first in six years. (Feb 2010, Apr 2012, Sept 2016, and Sept 2022). He will face a three-game ban if it's not appealed #Chairboys
— James Richings (@James_BFP) September 3, 2022
He continued: “It throws the game plan into pieces.
“You work all week with the last two days being on the game plan that we had, and we were still able to go ahead with parts of the plan.
“However, we went into a deep press similar to the MK away leg in the playoffs as we camped in our half and said ‘come on, break us down.’
“In the end, we deserved something from the game and I am glad we have got them a point.”
Wycombe are now 14th in the table and host Port Vale on September 10.
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