Dean Smith now criticises 25-year-old Newcastle player after tonight's game

Leicester City manager Dean Smith was quick to criticise Bruno Guimaraes in his post-match interview after draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park

Before he’d even acknowledge the fact that his side just picked up a point at St James’ Park tonight, Dean Smith wanted to say his piece about Bruno Guimaraes‘ challenge on Boubakary Soumare in the ninth minute that earned the Brazilian a yellow card.

It was a high boot for sure, but it was a genuine attempt for the ball by Newcastle‘s number 39, however Bruno’s foot made solid contact with Soumare’s thigh and in a slowed-down replay it did look quite nasty.

Dean Smith was adamant Bruno should have been sent off

Andy Hinchliffe on co-commentator duty for Sky Sports was seemingly very convinced it was a red card, even trying to suggest that Bruno leaned into the challenge making it worse, when he was clearly trying to pull out of the tackle.

It seems as though Dean Smith saw the same footage as Hinchliffe as he too thought it was a red card saying in his post-match interview with Sky Sports: “I do feel there may have been a red card early in the game. I thought it was a really poor challenge from Bruno, he’s caught him on the thigh. I’m not sure what VAR sees there, because from what we have seen so far throughout this season I think that’s been a red card many times.”

Bruno Guimaraes is not that kind of player

I can kind of see Dean Smith’s point of view – as Leicester manager of course he’d want the red card, but I dare bet that if the roles were reversed he’d be saying it was just an unfortunate challenge.

We all know that Bruno just isn’t built that way. Yes he’s been sent off this season, and we’ve seen him get mad on the pitch once or twice, but to suggest that he’d deliberately go in for a challenge like that is, to be honest, disrespectful.

A yellow card was the right call, even Gary Neville said so at half-time that he felt the referee got it right.