Boss Roy Keane has confirmed that the Blues will not be appealing against midfielder Andros Townsend’s red card at Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Town manager says his side will miss the loanee from Spurs during his three-game ban.
Keane admits the second half challenge on Julian Speroni was dangerous, if not malicious: "He was high. We appealed the situation with Steady and got the extra game. We’ll respect the official’s decision this time and having watched it again he was high.
"It was a naïve tackle, it wasn’t nasty or anything like that. He’s a left-sided midfielder and these type of boys don’t really know how to hurt people.
"So, we won’t be appealing and we’ll suffer because he’s doing really well for us. He’s settled into the club very, very well and also Steady’s gone.
"We’re under pressure in terms of numbers,” Keane added, "but if we keep showing the spirit and the energy that we did on Saturday we’ll keep going and keep battling away.
"And we’re playing some not bad stuff either. Every team we play every manager thinks they should be beating us, but we’re obviously watching different games.”
Meanwhile, former Town target Ross McCormack is set to hold talks with Leeds United regarding a move from Cardiff to Elland Road, while ex-Blue Alan Lee is on the verge of a switch from Crystal Palace to Huddersfield for £500,000.
Elsewhere, Blues owner Marcus Evans is apparently pictured in one of this morning’s national newspapers watching Saturday’s game at Selhurst Park. Since taking over Town at the end of 2007 Evans has always been careful to protect his privacy and is not believed to be have been caught on camera before.