ALEX Neil expects Zak Sturge’s red card will be overturned and the left-back will be available for Millwall’s trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Sturge, 24, was controversially sent off shortly before the hour mark against Blackburn Rovers for bringing down Yuki Ohashi as he was bearing down on goal, despite Jake Cooper covering. Blackburn went on to overturn a one-goal deficit to win 2-1.
Millwall appealed the red card on Monday, and a judgment is expected before the Lions head to Portman Road.
“We wouldn’t put the case forward unless we felt we’ve got a genuine and great opportunity of that getting overturned,” Neil said. “I’d be surprised if it doesn’t. But listen, it’s football, you know what I mean? I’ve done this long enough now that nothing really surprises me anymore.
“But I think that, certainly, looking at our case, looking at the rules. I spoke to the referee after the game. What he said to me was that the linesman did not have any bearing on the red card. So they spoke to him, but he only spoke to him about the timing of the contact. There are pictures that we’ve seen since that show the referee doesn’t even have a clear view of it. They’ve got a player between the referee and the player.
“I still think that it’s too far from the goal. I still think his touch is taking him the wrong way. We’ve got two recovering defenders. There is a lot of mitigation in there for why we deemed it an extremely harsh red card, and I would fully expect it to be overturned.”
Millwall were without Ryan Leonard, Casper De Norre, Caleb Taylor and Alfie Doughty last weekend, all of whom are expected to be back within four weeks, Neil said at a Fans Forum on March 13.
Neil was asked if any were in contention to make the squad on Saturday.
“We should have one or two.”
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Let’s hope the EFL make the right decision and overturn.