Opposition view: Artell baffled by red card as Grimsby boss confirms the worst over Pruti's injury
Grimsby Town manager David Artell ‘can’t understand’ how Edon Pruti was sent off after breaking his leg in a challenge with Joe Wormleighton during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Northampton.
The Mariners defender collided with Wormleighton at full throttle and it immediately became obvious that he had suffered a terrible injury. Both sets of players waved for the medical staff to come on and he was stretchered off after eight minutes of treatment.
Nonetheless, referee Martin Woods stuck with his decision to show Pruti a straight red card, effectively ending any hope Grimsby had of overhauling the 2-0 deficit.
“I don’t understand how someone can break their leg and get sent off,” said Artell. “We also heard the ref on the comms telling Doug (Tharme) to get off the pitch when he’s clearly incapacitated.
“It’s mental and I don’t like it because player’s safety is paramount, but I don’t want to speak too much about the ref because I’ll end up saying something I shouldn’t.
“I asked to speak to the ref at Port Vale last weekend but he had already left after I had finished with the media. I asked him to stay and I got a phone call from Mike Jones apologising for the referee’s cowardice.
“I’ve asked to speak to him again today because I want to know why he’s sent off a player who’s broken his leg. Decisions change the course of the game.”
On the injury itself, Artell confirmed the worst, adding: “It looks a double leg break unfortunately. I assume he will have an operation but I haven’t been able to speak to him yet. We obviously wish him a speedy recovery.”