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Beardsley Rues Controversial Red Card
Written by Newcastle Utd
Peter Beardsley believes Jamie Sterry's 11th-minute red card was the key moment of Monday night's Barclays Under-21 Premier League loss to Stoke
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Peter Beardsley was left to rue a controversial red card as his Newcastle United under-21 side lost 2-1 to their Stoke City counterparts on Monday night.
The game was just 11 minutes old when Potters midfielder Oliver Shenton went down under a challenge from Jamie Sterry, who was dismissed by referee Andrew Miller.
Dominic Telford converted the resulting penalty and, although Daniel Barlaser equalised ten minutes later as United were awarded a spot-kick of their own, Stoke's numerical advantage told as they piled on the pressure in the second half and eventually won the game through Lewis Banks' powerful late strike.
Afterwards, former England star Beardsley told nufc.co.uk: "It's easy in hindsight, but we've seen it and it wasn't a red card.
"It's a double-whammy because you get the penalty against you and then the sending off. I'm not blaming the referee - they make mistakes, it happens - but it killed the game as a spectacle.
"Most of the people in the crowd probably thought 'this could be three, four, five', but fair play to the kids - they stuck at it. (Jamaal) Lascelles led them from the back; when we went to three at the back, he organised them very well.
"In terms of the effort, I couldn't fault our players. I thought they were magnificent. Karl (Darlow) made some good saves, as you would expect when you're down to ten men, but it the end we were disappointed that we didn't hang on for a draw.
"I keep saying that results don't matter (at under-21 level) but they deserve more than that for their effort and their attitude and I'm disappointed for them in the end.
"But they were outstanding and I think everyone in the dressing room realises that. As much as you're disappointed for them, you're also proud of them."
Promising right-back Sterry was making his return to action after a hip flexor strain, so the early red card was particularly cruel on the Newcastle-born youngster as he looks to break into the first team squad.
And Beardsley said: "It's frustrating, because we were only going to give him half a game anyway.
"But it's an experience. Next time, will he make the tackle to give the referee a decision?
"I knew by Jamie's reaction that it wasn't a penalty but sadly it's part of the game and it'll do him good in the long run. It just won't feel like it at the moment."