Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley and Bristol Rovers gaffer Steve Evans have both been charged by the FA for misconduct. They were sent off during their Vertu Trophy round of 16 meeting.
Argyle ended up winning the tie at the Memorial Stadium in dramatic fashion. A 4-3 victory via a 95th-minute winner, by way of Aribim Pepple.
The Plymouth Boss received two yellow cards in quick succession after a decision went against his side. His first for leaving his technical area and another for striking the dugout in reaction to his first booking. It’s the third time this season that Cleverley had been red-carded.
He was also dismissed in the second half of the Pilgrims’ 3-2 League One win away to Luton Town in September last year. He was also forced to watch a game from the stands in December.
Plymouth’s first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell told BBC Radio Devon, “I think the gaffer’s passion shows through and his desire to want this football club to be successful.”
He added, “I thought the first one was really harsh, I’m not sure what the second one was all about, but it looked very, very harsh for me.”
Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Paul Raynor was frustrated at the “silly mistakes,” which cost the Gas at The Mem in the Vertu Trophy.
The 59-year-old did praise the performance from the hosts. Saying that Rovers hadn’t come away with what they deserved against League One opposition.
Head coach Steve Evans was then sent-off post match – a sending off for both managers respectively. Brighton-Forest in 2024 was the last time it occured.
Evans’ red card meant he could not do do any post-match media duties. Raynor said; “I think we didn’t really deserve that. I thought the guy’s performance, particularly going forward, was something we didn’t deserve. But if you defend like that, you make silly mistakes, you get punished for them.”
The Gas assistant added, “They’re [Plymouth] a decent League One team. Tom’s [Cleverley] got them playing some good stuff now. They’re a real threat going forward.
“You don’t need to give them a hand, you don’t need to help them. We helped them in the first couple of minutes with Tom [Lockyer] making a basic mistake, and as I say, they punished it.”
