Gerard Houllier warns Nigel Reo-Coker over temper
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has warned Nigel Reo-Coker about his temperament after the player was booked for lashing out at Birmingham City’s Craig Gardener during the Midlands derby on Sunday, 31 October.
The match was a tense affair, but neither side was able to produce any real quality in a Premier League match that finished 0-0.
Reo-Coker was involved in a number of feisty incidents during the game and was separated at the end of the game as he attempted to confront Birmingham players.
Houllier substituted the former West Ham midfielder four minutes after his altercation with Gardener as it appeared that the player could be sent off.
The manager admitted that the midfielder needed to control himself on the pitch and said, "Sometimes when you're tired you lose a bit of control. I warned him and wasn't happy with the reaction. He will learn."
Houllier also felt that the hype leading into the game affected his player and that the referee was right to book Reo-Coker.
“You've got to be strong enough to take it on the chin and go on. In that particular circumstance the referee had whistled and it was a free-kick so we should get on with it," said the Aston Villa manager.
Houllier believed that the referee had a good game and that Birmingham and that the competitive nature of the derby made for a poor match
"It's a derby and sometimes they are not allowed to play. Credit to Birmingham they had a clean match, it was physical but not over the top and the referee held the two teams very well. We all know how competitive matches in the Premier League are, but the
Midlands derbies are maybe more so than others," said Houllier.
The former Liverpool manager is still expected to start Reo-Coker in the next Premier League game against Fulham, despite his lack of discipline last Saturday.
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