Striker Pablo Couñago says he was upset by claims that he spat at Scunthorpe defender Andy Butler made by Iron boss Nigel Adkins after Saturday's game. The Spaniard denies spitting at the defender, who he says elbowed him in the face.

Couñago has confirmed earlier reports which stated that he had spat blood at the ground, after Butler had caught him with an elbow, but not at the player.

The striker said: "The comments from their manager have upset me. When you read the papers and hear him say that I spat in the player's face it makes me feel very bad. It makes out that I am a criminal.

”Probably their manager believed his player when he said I spat at him. I can understand that, but it was not right.

"Their manager speaks about respecting the game of football. I have never spat at a player in my life. What about the player elbowing me? Where is the respect in that? They kicked me without the ball being there, where is the respect in that?”

Yesterday, Town announced that they are launching an appeal against the red card issued by referee Iain Williamson for Couñago raising his hands to on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork, boss Jim Magilton dismissing the incident as "handbags”.

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