Teixeira substitute mix up

Tony Mowbray has explained his decision to sub Midfielder Filipe Teixeira during yesterday’s 2-0 defeat against Fulham. The midfielder – not long back from long term injury, showed disgust at Mowbray’s decision to withdraw him from the game just five minutes into the second half. Fans, who thought Teixeira to be amongst the best of their side during the first half also showed their bemusement.

But Mowbray says that he had no intention of upsetting fans or the player – who looked more than a little angry to see he was the chosen substitute for Chris Brunt. 

Mowbray believed that Teixeira was injured and needed to leave the field of play.  Described as ‘touch and go’ and half time, Mowbray made the decision to send Teixeira out for the start of the second half.  But Just 5 minutes into the action saw fit to remove him after what he describes as mixed messages. 

The gaffer commented that within 30 seconds of the re-start two of his players were signalling to him that Teixeira was injured and needed to come off.  Failing to mention which two team members it was, he went on to say that it was not until the player came off and he spoke to him that he realised it had been a mistake, and Teixeira had not infact signalled to anyone that he was struggling. 

Mowbray used the timings of this as proof, stating that had his substitution been tactical he would have made it at half time instead.