Mark Hudson had no complaints about the Callum Robinson red card which ruined Cardiff City's chances of coming away from Swansea City with a South Wales derby victory.
The Bluebirds began the match in a positive manner, but after seven minutes there was a flashpoint which ultimately destroyed any hope for the visitors.
After Robinson received a little nudge in the back from Ben Cabango, he grabbed the ball, turned around and threw it at the defender's head. He left referee Darren Bond with a decision to make and the red card was brandished.
Hudson admitted it was a steep uphill task from then on. Asked if he had any complaints about the decision to send the striker off, interim Bluebirds boss Hudson said: “I’d say no. It’s about having controlled aggression in moments during a game.
“He’s been brilliant since he’s come into the football club, he’s brilliant with the players, and he’s been brilliant in the build-up towards it.
“It’s something to learn from and I can only focus on the players who were on from seven onwards. They stuck in, fought for the club, fought for the badge, and fought for each other which is all you can ask.”
What motivated Robinson to do such a petulant act is a mystery. Hudson spoke before the game about wanting his players to control their emotions and Robinson simply did not do that.
“It’s about controlled emotion, the build-up to it, and how important it was for us and the fans, and for the club," he added.
“That’s a decision that’s been made but I’d like to focus on the 10 that were on the pitch from seven minutes onwards. They really had to fight hard considering they also had to do it on Wednesday night.
“There’s decisions in moments in games, and that’s a decision that’s been made. Again I can only praise highly the 10 that were on the field.
“They worked so hard for each other and showed what it meant. We started really well, and the set-up was right, but it became difficult after seven minutes.”
Asked whether Robinson had apologised to the players, Hudson said: “He’s had a few words with the players, of course. He’s an experienced person, an experienced player and I can say that since he’s come in he’s been brilliant for the football club.”
As you would imagine, the manager in the opposition dugout, Russell Martin, was delighted by Robinson's moment of madness early on in the game.
"We were helped with the early red card. It was something we spoke to our players about - especially the young ones in the team - to not get involved in any of that," Martin said.
"Thankfully for us, one of their players did. It’s a really easy mistake to make when the atmosphere is like this in such a big game.
"We got three bookings for getting involved in stuff that we had spoken about, things that their player had got sent off for - albeit not as extreme. But we shouldn't have got involved.
"I can’t talk about their player. I never did that, so I can’t say what it takes to do that. I guess players lose it because of what’s at stake - how passionately they feel about it.
"But there is a balance and a line and we spoke to our players how it suited them more than it did us to get involved in all that stuff. That’s the honest truth. To build it up, would have been detrimental to us and more helpful to them."
Cardiff fans are getting tired of losing this fixture now. Just one win in the last eight derbies simply is not good enough. And, on the back of yet another derby defeat, Hudson wanted to offer a message of thanks to the supporters in attendance.
“Absolutely I feel for the fans. They were with us again today," he said.
“They were right there as soon as we arrived at 10.30 when they were there with noise and desire for the game. I think we showed that for the first seven, but it was difficult after that with 10 men.
“We were willing all the way to the end.”
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