No FA action over Ridgewell tackle

By foxsports
Published

McCarthy suffered an ankle injury from the touch-line challenge by Ridgewell in which referee's assistant Trevor Massey had to be carried off after being struck in the face by the tip of the corner flag. Latics boss Roberto Martinez was incensed by the challenge and felt that referee Anthony Taylor should have sent off the former Aston Villa player. But Taylor opted to take no action and reports that the FA are to act retrospectively over the incident have been dismissed. A Football Association spokesman said: "The FA are to take no action against Liam Ridgewell because the referee saw the incident at the time and dealt with the situation at the time." Ridgewell, meanwhile, insists Birmingham will not ease up despite sitting eighth in the Premier League with 40 points in the bag. After reaching the magic 40 point barrier with victory over Wigan, Ridgewell admitted there was a "buzz" around the ground. The defender said: "To get to 40 points is what you aim for at the start of the season and we are delighted. "You saw the reaction at the end of the game. A lot of people here got relegated two years ago which was a really horrible feeling. "It is a great buzz to know you will be playing in the Premier League again next season." Birmingham take a break from league action this weekend when they visit Portsmouth in their FA Cup quarter-final clash. Ridgewell said: "It is important to get to the 40 point mark going into the FA Cup game. We had been lingering on 37 for a couple of games. It is nice to get there and gives you that bit of a breather. "Hull came up last season and went right to the wire before achieving safety and hopefully we can kick on from here." Ridgewell is adamant City will not take their foot off the gas in the final two months of the campaign. He said: "We won't take our eye off ball. We've got a quarter-final and a win will take us to Wembley and, if you don't see that as an incentive, there is no point in playing. "But maybe getting to 40 points can help a bit for the cup in the sense that it eases the tension. "We can make sure we've got our minds right for the quarter-finals without having to worry about a relegation battle."