'A STUPID TACKLE

CALLUM WRIGHT BAN LEAVES INJURY-HIT ARGYLE EVEN MORE DEPLETED

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

WAYNE Rooney criticised Callum Wright for 'a stupid tackle' which led to his dismissal late in Plymouth Argyle's dismal 4-0 Boxing Day defeat away to Coventry City.

What had already turned out to be a miserable match for the bottom-ofthe-table Pilgrims was made even worse when Wright, who was a first half substitute for the injured Mustapha Bundu, was sent-off in the 87th minute for a scything challenge on Coventry defender Joel Latibeaudiere.

With Argyle already having a lengthy injury list, the last thing they needed was Wright to be sent-off and he will have to serve a three-match suspension, which begins away to Oxford United tomorrow. He will also be ruled out of the New Year's Day fixture against Bristol City at Home Park and the trip to Stoke City on Saturday, January 4.

Rooney had no complaints about the decision of referee Adam Herczeg to show a straight red card to Wright. "He was probably a little bit lucky earlier than that, he had a bit of a wild tackle just before," said the Argyle head coach.