Ridgewell plans appeal

Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell has apologised to this team-mates for being sent off against West Brom, but wants to appeal against the decision after saying the referee over-reacted.

The England Under-21 international was dismissed by referee Rob Styles after an angry confrontation with Jonathan Greening.

Both men were sent off after they clashed heads in a heated exchange, but Ridgewell believes referee Style over-reacted.

"I expected the foul to be given to me. I just stood there and he (Greening) came towards me," Ridgewell told the club website.

"You see it on TV and I thought we were just standing there, head to head.

"I didn't go to butt him and he didn't go to butt me. I think it's over-reaction by him (referee). It spoilt the game. I apologised to all the players and it's just one of those things."

Ridgewell feels aggrieved by the decision, and hopes to follow Greening's lead in appealing against the red card.

"I feel a sense of injustice because I'm not a bad person who goes out to head-butt people. I just stood there thinking: 'I've got the foul' and he came up to me and we went head to head.

"There was nothing intentional. We both stood there. I didn't expect to be sent off and that was why I walked off the pitch thinking: 'What's gone on?'

"People have spoken to him and he's going to appeal and hopefully I will as well, definitely. My reaction was that maybe I'd get a yellow card.

"Kevin Campbell came up and said to the referee: 'Don't spoil it' because it wasn't anything massive."

Villa boss David O'Leary has already criticised Ridgewell for getting sent off, and he has accepted the criticism, although he still believes he was innocent.

"I didn't mean to do it and I've got to just work hard in training.

"The manager said I was just silly to do what I did. I know it was silly - I've never been sent off before in my career.

"I hold my hands up but there was nothing in it. I've said sorry to my team-mates but where does that get you?

"It doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't get you three points. You can say sorry a million times but you can't take it back."