Hackett Exclusive: Wycombe must appeal Simons red card error v Birmingham
Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Xavier Simons was unlucky to be sent off in his side’s League One defeat to Birmingham City, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Chiarboys should consider appealing the 22-year-old’s dismissal.
Following the departure of manager Matt Bloomfield to Luton Town, Wycombe have continued to compete for automatic promotion from League One under his replacement, Mike Dodds, in recent weeks.
Their hopes of catching Birmingham at the very top of the table were however dealt a blow following defeat to Chris Davies‘ side at St Andrew’s on Saturday (1 March).
They were however not helped in that cause by the controversial red card shown to Simons on the stroke of half time.
Xavier Simons walks for Ethan Laird challenge
After Taylor Gardner-Hickman had given Birmingham the lead midway through the first half, the hosts got another boost in stoppage time just before the break.
As they looked to counter attack, Ethan Laird broke down the right-hand side, before being brought down by a sliding challenge by Simons.
The midfielder, who signed for Wycombe on loan from Hull back in the January transfer window, was then shown a straight red card by referee Ben Toner.
Up against ten men for the whole of the second half, Birmingham were then able to secure three more points to move them ever closer to a return to the Championship.
Hackett though, believes the Blues should not have been given that man advantage for so much of that game.
‘Birmingham City fortunate over Wycombe Wanderers red card’ – Keith Hackett
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision to send Simons off for Wycombe, the former referee said:
“It’s a reckless challenge but for me it doesn’t fulfill the requirements for serious foul play so the referee’s got it wrong.
“It’s a yellow for (being) reckless, it’s not serious foul play. If it was serious foul play he’d have to have excessive force.
| League One Position | Played | Points |
| 1. Birmingham City | 32 | 76 |
| 2. Wycombe Wanderers | 33 | 64 |
| 3. Wrexham | 33 | 62 |
“There’s a bit of that there but there’s no malice, there’s no brutality in that challenge. He’s made a challenge for the ball and he’s taken the man. Reckless.
“Yellow card, absolute nailed on yellow, he’s got that one wrong! If I were his club I’d appeal. He might not get off because you’re dependent on who’s on the panel.
“I think if a player looks at that and he’s on the panel he’s going to say that’s a yellow and not a red.”
Birmingham are next in when they travel to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night (4 March), with Wycombe hosting Burton Albion the following evening.