Motherwell boss blasts 'ridiculous won the ball' claims, as he stands by red card verdict for tackle on Mika Biereth

Stuart Kettlewell says he tips his cap to St Mirren defender Charles Dunne for his apology to injured Motherwell striker Mika Biereth - but stands by his opinion that it warranted a red card.

And he has blasted claims that Dunne won the ball, insisting if one of his players made such a tackle he would expect them to be sent for an early bath.

Dunne clattered into the back of Biereth in the second half of Motherwell's 1-0 Viaplay Cup defeat to Saints last Saturday, which has left the Arsenal loan striker sidelined for three months with a knee injury.

The challenge has sparked much debate online, with many Saints fans claiming Dunne 'won the ball' in the challenge.

Dunne himself publicly apologised on social media, saying a slip played its part, and revealed he reached out to Biereth to wish him well in his recovery.

Kettlewell, while pleased to see the ex-Motherwell man hold his hands up, stands by his post-match verdict on Saturday that a red card should have been issued by referee Willie Collum, in a game that did not feature VAR technology.

"My opinion hasn't changed," stressed Kettlewell.

"I think one of the things I heard was that 'he won the ball' and what people need to understand here - and I need to stress this isn't my rules, anybody who watched me play football will know I picked up more red cards and was involved in more crazy challenges than anybody else - is that the rules have changed.

"I have lost count of the amount of times I have been told by officials that it doesn't matter if you win the ball.

"If you are off the ground, at momentum, putting an opponent at risk of injury, coming off the ground - all those aspects - I was led to believe that is a red card.

"I've not changed my mind on it, I won't