Barry, Young and Agbonlahor warned: No silly yellow cards
Feb 7 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
Gareth Barry battles with Brian Stock.
“But for the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, with respect, they should really be able to see it through.
“We’ve got a number of games still to go, but there’s an amnesty I think at the end of February if you haven’t done the five.”
O’Neill had a quiet word with Young following his three-match ban for his sending-off at Sunderland and gave him the captain’s armband on Wednesday evening.
But the winger almost marred his return to first-team action in the FA Cup win over Doncaster, with an unnecessary first-half foul, although he escaped a caution.
“I just think on Wednesday the captaincy went to his head!” said O’Neill.
“I continue to have a word with him, I do. What do you think I do with my time?
“We don’t want to lose him for three games.
“I thought the challenge at Sunderland was kind of crazy but crude and I was really surprised at that.
“The one on Wednesday the referee was right beside it. I know the one you’re talking about where it looks as if he’s gone high. I’ve seen it back since and it’s not. He’s not lunged in.”
O’Neill will accept bookings and bans resulting from honestly-made tackles, but he will not be impressed by stupid cards and suspensions for dissent or over-celebrating.
“Gabby Agbonlahor actually committed a foul on someone for his fourth booking,” added O’Neill.
“In that particular moment you couldn’t have argued with it. It was a definite booking.
“But to be booked for something like taking your shirt off after celebrating a corner would be ridiculous.”
