Luke Rodgers attacked Westwood, claims Dario Gradi
Luke Rodgers scored nine goals in 39 games for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe manager Dario Gradi has accused Notts County striker Luke Rodgers of getting midfielder Ashley Westwood sent off in a fiery encounter on Saturday.
Rodgers, a former Crewe player, and Westwood both saw red in stoppage time as County held out for a 1-0 victory.
"Luke attacked him, there's no doubt in my mind about that," Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke. "Westwood retaliated, which he shouldn't have done.
"I was annoyed because we had a chat before the game and we got on well."
Gradi continued: "He was saying he had a chance to go to America in the summer, he asked for my advice and I was giving it.
"It's a shame that he can't control himself all of the time."
Gradi signed Rodgers for Crewe from Shrewsbury in July 2005, and sold him to local rivals Port Vale 18 months later.
The Crewe boss added: "The game became a farce. That's not a way to win a football match by losing your head, with all the fracas that surrounded it.
"We've got to try and grow up and be a bit more professional and handle those situations better."
Gradi was upset with the reaction of the home supporters at an incident before Rodgers and Westwood were sent off, when Rodgers crashed over the advertising boards and into the crowd after chasing down a loose ball.
"I was horrified with our crowd because the majority of our crowd cheered," said Gradi.
"It disgusted me because anything could have happened to him.
"I've no time for that in football, that's not what football's about as far as I'm concerned."
if a player is knobbing about trying to piss off the crowd why can't we have a go back. its not even like classic ribbing cos hes an ex player, he goes out his way to wind the crowd up so fuck him. someone should have give him a good kicking where he went over.
