Image source,Huw Evans Picture Agency
Image caption,

Swansea had been the more threatening side at Birmingham until Marko Stamenic (right) was sent off

By

Gareth Vincent

BBC Sport Wales

  • Published17 minutes ago

Vitor Matos has defended Marko Stamenic after the midfielder was sent off duringSwansea City'sdefeat at Birmingham City.

Stamenic saw red in the 26th minute for a heavy challenge on Ethan Laird.

Birmingham seized the initiative after Stamenic's early exit, with Jay Stansfield swiftly putting the Blues ahead and then netting a late winner afterSwansealevelled in the second half.

Matos suggested Stamenic should not have been dismissed because he played the ball rather than formerSwansealoanee Laird.

"I cannot change what the referee decided," said theSwanseahead coach.

"I think what happened in that situation was that Marko touched the ball. He tackled the ball with the first foot, he tackled the ball with the second foot.

"There's no contact between the two players, so then it's the judgement of the ref if that's a red or not. It's up to him not me."

Stamenic faces a three-match ban after the first sending off of hisSwanseacareer, with Birmingham boss Chris Davies describing the red card incident as "a poor challenge".

UnlessSwansealaunch a successful appeal, New Zealand player Stamenic will miss games against West Brom, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City after the upcoming international break.

"I am here already [in English football] for a good amount of time - I was here before," Matos added.

"I saw so many challenges worse than this in the last game. Some of these challenges end up with players injured. It's just harsh when we have this challenge and then there's a red card.

"It's for the refs to judge and try to find an agreement on where the line is."

'The ref brought over two lighters'

Image source,PA
Image caption,

Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux hands an object to referee Anthony Backhouse

The game at St Andrew's was interrupted in the second half asSwanseagoalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux complained that missiles were being thrown from the crowd.

When asked about what happened, Matos said: "The ref brought over two [cigarette] lighters [to the fourth official].

"It's more than clear that it is not acceptable. Let's see what happens. Of course it's not right."

Nevertheless, the Matos insisted he was "not here to give excuses" afterSwanseadropped to sixth in the Championship having been beaten for the fourth time in five matches.

The dip in form has come after the Swans lost only one of their first 10 league games this season.

"What I am here to say is that with this group of players, with the effort they made and the character they have, we as a club, we will come back," Matos declared.

"They will come back and we will go back to our standards."

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