Hull City were 3-0 victors at Deepdale on Tuesday night but the headlines were dominated by an incident towards the end of the match
Preston’s Milutin Osmajic was sent off against Hull to earn yet another suspension(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Simon Jordan has likened Milutin Osmajic’s loss of control at the end of Preston North End’s loss to Hull City to Luis Suarez’s actions – and has also drawn attention to John Lundstram’s role in the incident.
The Tigers were 3-0 up and coasting to an impressive away win when Osmajic and Lundstram clashed in the 90th minute. The City man grabbed hold of the Preston striker and confronted him. which prompted Osmajic to dip his head into his opponent’s face.
Referee Stephen Martin flashed an instant red card, meaning the Montenegrin will once again be banned from playing. This comes just five games after he returned from a nine-match suspension after being found guilty of racially abusing Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri. Osmajic refuted the charge.
In October 2024, he was banned for eight games for admitting to biting Blackburn Rovers’ Owen Beck.
All of which prompted talkSPORT pundit Jordan to have his say on the incident – evoking the name of former Liverpool firebrand Suarez.
Jordan said, via Lancashire Post: “I saw the incident and my first reaction to it, while it is a sending off, is I don’t think it’s a full-on, running, jump, headbutt. It is not acceptable on a football field and he has illustrated a code of behaviour, when it comes on top for him in moments of adversity, he can’t control himself.
“I don’t want to draw parallels but (Luis) Suarez did similar things. Players with a certain temperament, when it comes to a flash point it doesn’t seem to matter what you say to them.
“Anyone coming back from an eight-game ban [sic], with all the controversy that surrounded that – and I know Preston and Peter (Ridsdale) were very robust that circumstantial evidence was not proven – but his previous offence, there was no debate.
“Even if there was an air of injustice, the last thing you do is come back from an eight-game ban, where you’ve been no use to the team and you might’ve got a fine or whatever else, and do that. It would appear that in pressurised moments… because the player he headbutted wasn’t innocent himself.
“The player in the altercation has pulled him around the back of the neck, so it isn’t a case of the guy walking up to him, tapping him on the shoulder and headbutting him. The player was provocative and in a combative situation with him. I thought Paul Heckingbottom handled the conversation in the media pretty well.
“They need to marginalise the downside of getting this fella out, which is making sure some other fool will take on the liability of him – suggest he has been badly misunderstood and it is just cultural differences… he will be much better off in some other country, playing for them and by the way, here is the fee for him.
“That is what Peter will be trying to achieve now because I think, most likely, the manager will have run his course with him. But then again, with respect to Paul and how well he handled this, do you know your players? Do you know the reality of what your players are capable of doing and their flashpoints?
“I am sure Paul would say he put the player on notice, that if we get a situation, a flashpoint, you have been involved in two now. I am sure Paul must’ve said can we make sure you retain control when a moment comes on top. The player is not capable of it.”
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