Taking ‘let him know you’re there’ to a new level
Playing at Wembley is a dream of pretty much every professional footballer. Spurs players might be a bit bored of it now, but for everyone else, playing at Wembley is a big deal. It’s especially big for the teams competing to get back into the football league via the play-offs.
Wembley hosted the National League play-off final today, between Tranmere Rovers and Boreham Wood. Tranmere won the match 2-1, taking an early lead in the sixth minute, but this was after they had got off to the worst possible start. Just 48 seconds into the game, Tranmere’s Liam Ridehalgh launched himself into an opponent and earned himself a red card. The tackle matched every criteria for a red card: out of control, off the ground, studs up, two feet, excessive force. Ridehalgh managed to tick every single one of these boxes, which is obviously bad, yet very impressive.
A red card inside a minute at Wembley! 🔴
Liam Ridehalgh is sent off after just 48 seconds and Tranmere are down to 10 men 😳 pic.twitter.com/2hMYbIfxk5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 12, 2018
Clearly, the adrenaline was flowing and he let the occasion get to his head. The look of regret after seeing the colour of the card is rather heartbreaking, but it was undoubtedly the right decision.
He owes every single one of his teammates a pint after today, as they went on to win without him.
