Danny Pugh is adamant Stoke team-mate Ryan Shawcross did not deliberately set out to hurt Aaron Ramsey.
Potters midfielder offers team-mate support after Ramsey tackle
Danny Pugh is adamant Stoke City team-mate Ryan Shawcross did not deliberately set out to hurt Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
Welsh youngster Ramsey will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken leg following Shawcross' tackle in Arsenal's 3-1 win at Stoke on Saturday night.
Shawcross was sent off for the challenge, which was described by Arsene Wenger as 'horrendous', and has released a statement to stress there was no malice intended.
Pugh insists the new England call-up is not that type of player and believes it was unfortunate that Ramsey suffered such a severe injury.
Genuine
"I have obviously seen it and I think it was a 50-50 tackle," said Pugh
"Ryan has not gone in to hurt him. He is not a malicious kind of lad and does not go out to hurt anyone.
"I think Ryan has genuinely gone for the ball.
"It is just unfortunate that the lad has been hurt so badly."
Pugh was starting his first Premier League game of the season against the Gunners and opened the scoring after Shawcross had flicked on Rory Delap's long throw.
However, Pugh was penalised for handball in the box in the final minute, allowing Cesc Fabregas to put Arsenal ahead before Thomas Vermaelen scored a late third.
He added: "I'm obviously delighted with the goal early on, but devastated with the final result.
"The goal was a simple tap-in for me. Rory did a good throw and then it came off Ryan - a little flick and it was nice and simple for me.
"But from my point of view I don't think it was a penalty. I had my hands by my side and the ball hit my hand - I didn't make any movement towards the ball.
"To concede a penalty in the 90th minute was hard for us all."
