DANNY Haynes today revealed that Leeds midfielder Kevin Nicholls deserved to be the fifth player sent off against Ipswich Town this season.Visiting skipper Nicholls got his marching orders after putting a forearm into the face of Haynes in the 83rd minute of Saturday's 1-0 Town Championship win at Portman Road.

By Elvin King

DANNY Haynes today revealed that Leeds midfielder Kevin Nicholls deserved to be the fifth player sent off against Ipswich Town this season.

Visiting skipper Nicholls got his marching orders after putting a forearm into the face of Haynes in the 83rd minute of Saturday's 1-0 Town Championship win at Portman Road.

And he was backed up by striker Alan Lee, who was accused by Leeds manager Dennis Wise of earlier elbowing defender Hayden Foxe.

While Wise said referee Keith Stroud should also have sent off Lee, Town manager Jim Magilton admitted that Owen Garvan was lucky to stay on the field after raising his arms against Nicholls seconds before the red card was raised.

But Garvan today pleaded his innocence.

Haynes, a 59th minute substitute for goalscoring hero Gavin Williams, said: “Kevin Nicholls elbowed me and it was seen by the linesman.

“If you do that then you deserve to go off. I did not react and just got on with things. But justice was done.”

Lee backed up Haynes about a game that failed to rise to any great heights and boiled over in the final few minutes.

Ipswich's leading scorer Lee said: “Kevin (Nicholls) elbowed Danny and had to go.

“He was lucky to be on the pitch at the time. He kicked me when he was booked a minute before his red card - and he was doing it all the game.”

Talking about his own booking after Leeds defender Hayden Foxe was left on the ground, Lee said: “We were chasing for the same ball and clashed in our determination to get to it first.

“The referee deemed it a bookable offence and there was no malice intended.”

Garvan joined in the general melee that followed Nicholls' offence. Nicholls went spinning to the ground after Garvan appeared to push him.

But the 18-year-old said: “My actions did not warrant a sending off. I was in the vicinity, but hardly touched him. He must have slipped when he fell over.

“I didn't notice what happened in the incident with Danny Haynes. It was our first win since I have been back in the side and we were all on a high at the end.”