Reading midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson says he will not be appealing against his red card against West Ham.
Midfielder won't appeal against sending off
Reading midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson says he will not be appealing against his red card in the match against West Ham saying "I deserved to go".
The Icelandic international was dismissed after a two-footed challenge on Hayden Mullins inside half-an-hour at Upton Park.
Picking up a three-match ban for his efforts, Gunnarsson says that, despite winning the ball, the referee's decision was justified.
Keen to defend his actions though, the 32-year-old told the Reading Evening Post: "I didn't go for the player or anything like that and he came out of it standing up.
No intent
"There was obviously no intent. I was just trying to get the ball, but at the same time trying to get to my feet.
"But the timing of it was bad. In the last couple of weeks there have been a few incidents that have been highlighted and the referees are trying to be consistent.
"But I do feel there are a lot of uglier incidents than this one.
"I don't think it's worth appealing. There is a quick turnaround of games and I'll be back in a couple of weeks."
Reason
Gunnarsson says his decision to go into the challenge the way he did was partly because of the injury he picked up just a couple of weeks ago against Birmingham.
The 32-year-old required eight stitches in his knee after a clash in the 1-1 draw at St Andrews and claims he was trying to protect that wound when he went in for the tackle on Mullins.
"I didn't put one leg underneath like I usually do because I got a gash the other week," said Gunnarsson.
"In a way I was trying to protect my knee but the referee doesn't know that.
"I have seen it (the incident) and I understand why the referee gave it."
