Etebo’s red card was deserved – Lampard

Derby manager, Frank Lampard expressed his delight with the referee’s decision to show Super Eagles midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo red following a reckless challenge on Richard Keogh during a Championship game on Wednesday night.

It was the first red card for the Nigerian, who joined Stoke City just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup but the Potters still went ahead to win the game 2-1 which ended very ugly.

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‘I’m told he went over the top of the ball so it was a red card,’ Lampard said after the referee sent off Etebo for going studs-up and catching Keogh on the shin.

Stoke City manager, Gary Rowett praised his team for their doggedness despite playing with 10 men after Etebo was sent off, he said: ‘It took a lot of discipline and great determination to win with 10 men. That was the biggest performance of our season. We didn’t crumble. I’m taking one of those snakes home with me!’

Derby’s Bradley Johnson sparked an 18-man melee when he lunge towards Joe Allen as they grappled towards the end of the first half and had his teeth on the Potters star shirt for a moment – he was shown just a yellow for his action and later replaced by Tom Huddlestone at half-time.

‘The atmosphere was always going to be hot,’ admitted Lampard, who argued with Stoke coach Mark Sale about the home side’s late time wasting.