'Wouldn't expect' - Bolton boss gives verdict on Xavier Simons red card vs Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday took advantage of Xavier Simons’ red card to knock Bolton Wanderers out of the Carabao Cup.
Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher said Xavier Simons’ decision to lash out at Sheffield Wednesday debutant Harry Gray during Saturday’s Carabao Cup clash at Hillsborough was out of character for the midfielder.
Simons, who played an important role in Bolton’s promotion from League One last season, was shown a straight red card 11 minutes after half-time after appearing to punch the Leeds United loanee in the stomach.
Gray was guilty of tugging Simons’ shirt as he attempted to lead a Bolton attack, but Simons’ reaction was unacceptable. It sparked a melee, with Wednesday’s players furious at Simons’ response.
Wednesday took advantage of their numerical advantage, getting their noses in front 14 minutes later when substitute Jamal Lowe latched onto Barry Bannan’s excellent pass and delicately lobbed the ball over Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham to seal the Owls’ passage into the second round of the competition.
Offering his verdict on the red card, Bolton chief Schumacher, who has expressed frustration this summer at a lack of transfer activity, conceded it was a “poor decision” from Simons but said it was the first time he had committed an offence like it.
"From the angle I've seen it from this side, it looks like Xav has reacted and lashed out, which he knows you can't do, it's a poor decision, and it's a decision that you wouldn't expect from him,” Schumacher told the media.
“It's the first time I've seen him do that since he's been here, and I'm sure he'll be disappointed with it.”
On the game itself, Schumacher, who has watched his side get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by the Owls in each of the last two seasons, continued: “I'm disappointed to lose the tie, especially in the manner that we did," he said.
"I felt we were the better team, much the better team, up until the red card, so it's had a massive impact on the game.
"We had three big chances in the first half where we should be out of sight, so that's on us to be more clinical with the opportunities that we said to the players would be there if we play as well as we did."