| Whether or not they do, boss Craig Levein has already made it clear he feels the Irishman was harshly treated by referee Iain Brines for his 55th-minute tackle on Gerard Aafjes.
“I will have a close look on the video, but, from where I was standing, it was an honest attempt to win the ball and it looked like that is what Roy did,” said Craig today.
“His red card is just another example of the way the game is going and tackling is becoming sanitised. For me, if there is not any intent and there is no contact with the opponent, then tackling should be aggressive because that is what football is about.
“I certainly feel for Roy, because he has just won his place back in the team and, when he was out, it was me who was on at him to work harder on the defensive side of his game.
“I wanted to see him closing people down and tackling, and that is what he was doing, so, in a way, I am responsible for this. He’s been following instructions and what’s happened to him isn’t fair.”
As things stand, O’Donovan will join injured fellow-front man Jon Daly on the unavailable list for tomorrow night’s trip to Rangers.
Unless that changes, the manager faces a straight choice between Francisco Sandaza and David Goodwillie to partner Warren Feeney in attack. |
