Shorey Loses Appeal

Last Updated : 16-Aug-2003 by
Earlier this week Alan Pardew had confirmed that he would challenge the referee's decision to send Shorey off as he believed the incident to have been: "a bit of a coming together".

However, the FA didn't agree with Pardew's interpretation of the incident and upheld the officials decision to give the left-back his marching orders.

As a consequence the former Leyton Orient man will now miss next Saturday's game against Derby County at Pride Park through suspension.

Next weekend, with no recognised reserve team left-back to call upon, Pardew may choose to play John Salako or Ricky Newman out of position. Alternatively, he could choose to play academy left-back Gary Middleton. Another option would be to switch to a 3-5-2 formation.

Shorey was controversially dismissed for a seventy-eighth minute tackle on Pablo Counago at Portman Road last weekend on the season's opening day. Referee Brian Curson adjudged that the 22-year-old's tackle denied Counago a clear goalscoring opportunity.

The decision certainly proved costly at the time. Reading seemed to be cruising to a 1-0 opening day win until Shorey's dismissal and later questionable refereeing decisions allowed Ipswich back into the game.