Dave Kitson says he could have had his leg broken by Matthew Upson.
Dave Kitson insists he could have had his leg broken by Birmingham's Matthew Upson in Saturday's FA Cup win.
Kitson claims Upson should have been sent off for his "shocking" second half lunge.
The Reading striker has only just returned to action after suffering a knee injury after a challenge from Middlesbrough's Chris Riggott on the opening day of the season.
"I almost had my leg broken at the end," Kitson told The Sun.
"It was a shocking tackle and he should have been sent off. I haven't worked my a**e off in the gym, running for six months, just to come back and have someone top me again.
"I can guarantee if that tackle had been on Wayne Rooney, we would be talking about it next month and maybe more action would have been taken.
"I am a fan of Upson. He is a great player and I think he should be playing in the Premiership. But there was no need for that challenge and that is what irritates me."
Kitson had earlier been booked for a kick on Upson and the former Arsenal defender, a transfer target of West Ham, admitted he may have misjudged the challenge.
"Looking at the tackle, I might have misjudged it a bit," he said.
"The pitch was quite slow and dead. I did genuinely try for the ball and I think I did take a small piece of the ball but I also took a large chunk of him as well.
"He's probably still a little bit sensitive, having just come back from injury after being out for a while.
"I had a split-second of worry when I first saw the referee's face but I don't think it was a red card."
