“The referee told me that he had sent Gidman off for deliberately chopping down and opponent from behind. “I am not allowed to criticise his decisions, so all I can say is that Gidman is sick about it, insisting that he played the ball. “I am sure you all saw if for yourselves. “Some of the Middlesbrough officials were obviously incensed about it too, and they immediately offered to support my player. “I have also watched a slow motion run of television film and I am sure it absolves Gidman. “Tyne-Tees TV have offered to let me have a copy of the film to use in evidence.” Ron Saunders. “We shall back Villa up.” John Neal, Middlesbrough manager. “In neither case did I foul him [45’ and 72’]. “In the first instance he ran into me and I caught him with my elbow. “In the second I played the ball in a tackle from the side, not from behind.” John Gidman.