John Gidman’s sending-off at Oldham was a direct result of play-acting by Alan Groves, claims Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders.

Gidman was dismissed in the 68th minute for a foul on Groves after having his name taken for a tackle on the same player 21 minutes earlier.

Villa’s Allan Little, who took Gidman’s place In defence, was also booked for a foul on Groves and the Oldham winger answered Saunders’s criticisms after the match by saying:

“It’s scandalous what he’s saying. It’s a load of rubbish. He (Gidman) was diving in all the time.

“He took me for a mug. If he’d laid off, played It cool. he would have done much better.

“I refute what Saunders is saying. The player kept coming In on me and he was bound to catch me. I love defenders coming in like that as I can slip them but then they catch me. But I can take stick like that all day.

“What was the other fella booked for? He was diving in too.”

Groves’s manager, Jimmy Frizzell, supported the argument:

“Groves is covered with stud marks and bruises.”

But Saunders was adamant:

“This was another wonderful example of one professional getting another sent off.”

He confided that he had been warned that Groves “won” free kicks all over the place “but we didn’t know how true that was “

Referee Davld Wallace (Crewe) said that Gidman was sent off for persistent fouling, but Saunders says “Groves intimidated the ref with his high diving”

“That’s a dreadful thing to say.” countered Groves “I’ve only had one player, Ritson of Bolton, sent off against me and that was 2 1/2 years ago. And I took the trouble to speak up in his defence.”

Gidman had been given a worrying afternoon by Grooves, a former Shrewsbury player who is 26 this month. His overlapping down the flanks had been restricted by the need to stifle Groves’s tricky footwork and speed.

A free kick conceded by Gidman for a tackle on Groves in the first half put the Villa defence under strain and Groves beat both Gidman and lan Ross later only for goalkeeper Jimmy Cumbes to make one of a series of fine saves.

Gidman’s booking came early in the second half and he and the rest of the Villa defence, were put under heavy pressure as Groves made the game throb.

These details would appear to make Mr. Wallace’s decision justifiable, but there still a nagging doubt for it seemed that the referee intended to book Gidman, forgetting the earlier caution.

He approached Gidman with his book out, an unusual method for a referee about to send a man off and spent a few minutes talking to Gidman before he walked off.

Villa played with more fervour with ten men and Ray Graydon’a 11th goal of the season, scored one and a half minutes from time, brought their first away League win.

On their attacking - and exciting - first half display alone, Oldham should not have lost their unbeaten home record but after taking the lead through Colin Garwood, Keith Hicks conceded an own goal equaliser.