2-0

Aston Villa skipper Stuart Gray today bitterly condemned the actions of Manchester City's Trevor Morley in yesterday's Maine Road double sending-off incident.

And today he was in touch with the player's union to try to persuade them to examine the evidence that was seen on television by millions of viewers.

"It's disgraceful that a player should have a fellow pro sent off like that.”

Said Gray, who claimed that the City player "went down as if shot" when he pushed him on the shoulder.

"He came in late at me and struck me with his forearm, cutting my mouth and gum. I pushed him away and he went down.

“Then, when the ref called us together, Morley asked him not to send me off.

“I have never been off before and I've not been booked more than ten times in an 11-year career.

"I hold my hands up and admit I should not have pushed him, Just walked away, butto react like that to a push on the shoulder is shocking."

The 29-year-old midfielder and Villa delegate to the PFA was today discussing the incident with the player's union, although there seems little hope of escape from a three-match ban.

He said: "Obviously I'd like them to be able to do something for me but much depends on the referee's report.”

Brendon Batson, PFA assistant secretary, said Gray had been in touch and they would be discussing the matter further.

He added: "We are not in charge of discipline but from what I saw on TV he shoved Morley and that can be interpreted in the rules as violent conduct."

Villa manager Graham Taylor put forward the possibility of action through the PFA immediately after Villa's televised victory which was marred by the 48th minute dismissals by referee Stephen Lodge, of Barnaley.

He said today: "The sooner players learn to behave like men instead of pansies the better it will be for football.

"Stuart is an honest lad. He could have fallen over when Morley struck him, he could have hit Morley and got them both sent off but what he did was to attempt to push him away. That is a natural reaction.

"The PFA have got to look at members and take them to task for behaviour like Morley's. Stuart is deeply upset but he just has to take it on the chin. He will not be punished further as he could be under the disciplinary procedure of the club."

Gray's dismissal means that he will start his ban a week today and will include the televised home match with Everton although he will be available for Wednesday's Littlewoods Cup tie at home to West Ham.

Taylor did not want the incident to detract from Villa's "very pleasing result" achieved by Tony Daley's fifth minute header and lan Olney's 64th minute goal.

It clinched their third successive First Division win and moved them to ninth in the table.

Villa's latest victory was built on the strong platform of impressive centre-backs Derek Mountfield and Kent Nielsen, the tremendous work-rate of David Platt and the ball play of Gordon Cowans.

Their first goal was an absolute delight and came from a six-man move started by Mountfield, helped on by Olney, Platt and Gray before Kevin Gage drilled a superb left-wing cross for Daley to head in.

Villa were massively impressive on the break and in their re-organisation after Gray's departure.

Cowans won a corner and from his flagkick they went further ahead just after the hour. Nielsen flicked on and Mountfield had a header and a volley pushed out by Dibble before Olney cracked a powerful shot into the roof of the net.