Rodgers accepts Long red but says Rams' Hulse should have been punished too

READING boss Brendan Rodgers had no argument with the red card shown to Shane Long in the defeat by Derby County.

But Rodgers and the Reading players felt the tackle made by Rob Hulse on Gylfi Ingimarsson just before half-time was similar to Long's late challenge on Fredrik Stoor 11 minutes from time.

Long was fouled by Shaun Barker seconds before the incident but referee Andy Haines did not blow.

The Reading player, frustrated, then lunged at Stoor and caught him on the ankle.

"It was a sending off. I've seen it on the video and it is late," said Rodgers. "But it was a really poor decision by the referee just before.

"There was a clear, clear free kick on Shane which wasn't given and then the red mist came down and he made a dangerous tackle.

"There was a similar tackle [by Hulse] in the first half. Maybe not as bad but the same type of tackle, studs up.

"There's no argument with Shane's card but if you look back we should have had a free kick in a very good position. Instead we ended up with a man sent off."

Stoor needed treatment after Long's foul and limped off with a damaged ankle, leaving Jake Livermore to fill in as an emergency right-back.

"I think Reading's argument was that it was quite similar to Rob Hulse's challenge in the first half but he (Long) did seem to have a jump and lunge, and he certainly caught Freddie on the ankle, looking at the state of it," said Rams manager Nigel Clough.

"It was a long, long way from us but Freddie's ankle is quite swollen."