John Carver hasn’t minced his words – again. And, this time, it is Mike Williamson feeling the full force of his wrath.
The Newcastle United head coach claimed his defender deliberately got sent off during his side’s 3-0 loss at Leicester as an “easy way out” and hinted at a bit of a changing room spat afterwards.
Williamson was shown a second yellow for a reckless challenge on Jamie Vardy out over the sideline with half an hour remaining but the Magpies were already trailing by three at that stage.
Still, without blaming Williamson for the defeat, Carver was less than happy with his player who he reckons knew what he was doing.
“I thought he’d done that on purpose – it looks like he did,” the boss told reporters after the game. “The ball was off the pitch – he had no need to make the challenge. He will miss two games. Is it an easy way out?
“I thought he meant it. When the ball went on to that left-hand side, my first reaction was don’t do it. He did it. Vardy was off the pitch, Willo was off the pitch, the ball was off the pitch. There was no need to do it and I’m not accepting that.
“I told him that to his face. I don’t want to go into his reaction.”
Update – Williamson released a statement, on Sunday, that refuted Carver’s claims. The statement reads:
‘There was absolutely no intent to hurt Jamie or get sent off. But I recognise that I should have been more composed and measured in my determination to win the ball.
‘Unfortunately, it did the one thing that I never wanted to do, and that was to hurt the team.
‘I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the Newcastle United supporters and my team-mates for getting sent off.’
After losing their eighth game in a row, Newcastle are now just two points above the relegation zone and, should Hull and Sunderland even manage a draw in both their games in hand, United will be separated from the drop zone with by just one.
They play West Brom, QPR, and West Ham in their final three games that will determine whether or not they stay in the Premier League next season.
Story first published on Saturday, May 2
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