Hull City state case for defence in Alex Bruce red card case (updated)

STEVE Bruce will call for action from the Football Association today after a post-match spat involving son Alex marred Hull City's 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

Although goals from Robert Koren and David Meyler secured a third straight win to propel the Tigers to within a point of the Championship's automatic promotion places, City's triumph was soured when Alex Bruce was shown a straight red card after the final whistle for retaliating to an elbow thrown by Huddersfield forward Alan Lee.

Bruce now faces a three-match ban for the shove on his former Ipswich team-mate, but father Steve wants intervention from the FA.

Although the authorities will await the report of referee Howard Webb, damning video evidence offered by the Tigers will almost certainly land Lee in hot water this week.

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City's hopes of seeing a suspension avoided or reduced appear slim but Steve Bruce was incensed.

He said: "I hope justice is done.

"We will put our case forward because when you see it on the DVD then you will understand why I am infuriated. Not just because it is Alex. I mean any player.

"I didn't see it at the time, neither did Howard Webb. And the linesman didn't see it. That is because the game had finished.

"All we saw was Alex charging towards him. But, hopefully, justice will be done and let the FA look at it.

"Thankfully, we had the best referee in the country here and can try to do something about it."

Unless leniency is shown towards Bruce, the defender will miss City's final three games of 2012 against Derby, Leicester and Leeds.

A shove on Lee, who duly tumbled to the ground in front of the dug-outs, left Webb with little option but to brandish a red card and the Tigers' defender quickly admitted his sins on Twitter.

He said: "I apologise to everyone connected with the club. I let everyone down reacting to being elbowed off the ball."

However, father Steve pointed the finger of blame emphatically at Lee.

"Alex's reaction was wrong but he did only push him. He hasn't raised his hands to him. But he went over like a right tart. It infuriates me.

"I fully understand that nepotism can come into it and that he shouldn't react. But I defy anyone who someone has just blatantly elbowed to just say nothing. His reaction was wrong, we all know that.

"I will deal with that, just as I would every other player. But I can understand the reaction. For me, he should have gone up and punched him.

"That way he gets a red card. To push him over and Alan Lee to fall like he has, he went over like a big tart and rolled around. He is cheating in those ten seconds.

"I thought more of Alan Lee than that. Of all the men I have come across in football, I thought he was better than that. He has cheated.

"I might get into trouble with the FA but we have to stamp out this nonsense.

"It soured an otherwise good day when we were excellent. We played some good stuff and were worthy winners."

• 3.30pm update: The FA has confirmed referee Howard Webb's report states Alex Bruce's red card was for violent conduct, an offence which carries a three-game ban. There is no word yet on whether Hull City will appeal.