Cardiff appeal against Loovens s/o

Loovens was dismissed after an innocent looking challenge after 9 minutes on Saturday. Preston's Dave Nugent got marginally ahead of Loovens and tried to cut across and went down under pressure from the Dutchman. There appeared to be little contact and Loovens himself was genuinely sure that no contact was made. Neil Alexander was particularly vociferous in his protests and had the clearest view of the incident. However the referee consulted his linesman and decided a red card was appropriate. Loovens was certainly the last man and had a foul been committed then a dismissal would have been warranted.

Dave Jones felt that the decision was wrong:

'Glenn has been punished for being stronger than their boy. It was shoulder to shoulder,' and the referee admitted to Jones that had the challenge occurred anywhwere else on the pitch then no yellow card would have been produced.

Loovens will travel with the squad to Plymouth tomorrow but Darren Purse is available to take his place. Loovens would be banned for 1 match but the ban is now deferred pending the result of the appeal. A decision could be made by the FAW panel before tomorrow's game, for which Loovens is now available.

Preston's Dave Nugent was later dismissed but Preston eventually scraped a win with a headed winner from Danny Pugh to make the score 2-1 to the Lilywhites.

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