Mark Hughes slams ‘ridiculous’ challenge on Mousa Dembele

Pain game: Fulham striker Mousa Dembele writhes in agony
11 April 2012

Mark Hughes blasted Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson over the "absolutely ridiculous" challenge which resulted in Mousa Dembele being carried off in the closing stages of Fulham's 2-0 Carling Cup defeat.

Wilkinson was booked for clattering into Dembele in injury time at the Britannia Stadium and the striker left the field with his left leg in a temporary protective cast.

Hughes was today waiting to discover the full extent of Dembele's injury as he faced up to a striker crisis. He is already without broken leg victim Bobby Zamora.

The Fulham boss said: "When you are at that stage of the game and your team are leading 2-0, there is a certain code and I suggest you look after the fellow professional. The lad has ignored that, there was no need for that challenge at that stage. We can ill afford to lose Mousa. If we have to be without him for an amount of time then our attacking threat will be compromised."

Stoke took the lead in the 23rd minute, courtesy of a superb flying header from Danny Higginbotham, and Kenwyne Jones made it 2-0 late on, as he made the most of Mark Schwarzer's indecision to head home a Rory Delap throw-in.

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