'He was kicked' ... why Rotherham United boss Alex Bruce pushed Paul Raynor and was sent off
The Millers lost 1-0 to the League Two table-toppers
Alex Bruce reacted to a kick from a member of the opposition in the stoppage-time incident that saw him receive a red card last weekend.
The Millers were trailing 1-0 at League Two leaders Bristol Rovers and pushing for a late equaliser when the ball went out of play close to the home and away dugouts.
Bruce went to retrieve it and that’s when trouble flared.
Video footage shows the head coach bending down to pick up the ball as Rovers number Two Paul Raynor - who has twice worked for Rotherham in the past - kicks it more than once to try to prevent him from doing so.
Bruce responded by pushing Raynor and both received their marching orders from referee Darren Drysdale.
"Listen, we wanted the ball in quickly," said Rotherham assistant head coach Steve Agnew. "They're trying to stop the ball. We've all been there. They're running the clock down. I fully understand what's gone off.
"Alex has tried to get the ball in, and their boy has kicked it out of his hands. If somebody kicked you on the hand quite violently, what would you do?
"It's disappointing. I know you've got to kind of restrain yourself. One of Alex's qualities is that he wants to win, and his team over the course of the season will reflect that."
Agnew was standing in for media duties at the Memorial Ground because Bruce's dismissal meant he wasn't allowed to speak with journalists himself.
Raynor has twice been part of the Millers management team with Steve Evans in the past. Agnew and Rovers boss Evans were seen talking and shaking hands after the final whistle.
Bruce is now facing a touchline ban.
Rotherham, who slipped to 17th spot as their three-match unbeaten run came to an end, went desperately close to an equaliser when Fabio Tavares rattled the woodwork with almost the last kick of a physical contest.
"The travelling fans, they were with us all the way to the end," Agnew said. We've hit the bar, and a goal then would have sent everybody home happy. It would have been a point we probably deserved, but it wasn't to be.
"Alex is disappointed. He'll reflect on what happened and we'll have a chat about it. Maybe next time we'll have to calm it down, I was at the other side of the dugout, unfortunately."