CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Ref justice for Osman (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Ref justice for Osman

9:30am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Wiltshire Sport By Dan Barnes

CHIPPENHAM Town’s Toby Osman is facing up to the prospect of another frustrating spell on the sidelines after being sent off for the fourth time this season in last weekend’s goalless draw with Leamington.

The versatile midfielder, who received straight reds against Stourbridge and Barwell, and was booked twice against former club Eastleigh earlier this season, picked up two yellow cards in Warwickshire last Saturday but felt that he should not have been sent off by referee David Avent.

Osman is yet to discover the length of his latest suspension but admits that he may have to work on curbing his over-enthusiasm to avoid more disciplinary black marks.

“Of course I’m going to say that I didn’t deserve to get sent off but for the first tackle, I won the ball and didn’t touch the player but he’s gone down and the referee’s booked me,’’ said Osman, who has scored five goals for the Bluebirds this season.

“Then, for the second one in the 85th minute, I’ve put in what I thought was an excellent tackle and hooked the ball away but it was like he couldn’t wait to get the second yellow out.

“Everyone who knows my style of play knows I’m not a dirty player but I think that maybe I’ve got that over-enthusiasm to win the ball back and prevent the other team scoring.

“Maybe I need to work more on keeping possession and giving myself less running to do.

“This is one that I really felt I didn’t deserve.”

The Bluebirds man added: “It’s annoying because I’d just got myself back into the team after a suspension and now I’ll be banned again soon.

“Hopefully I can tell Kempy (Gary Kemp, coach) that my fitness is fine and we can work on possession with the ball instead.”