Mark Gower brands Fernando Torres challenge "needless"

Swansea City's Mark Gower has insisted that Fernando Torres deserved a red card for his challenge on the midfielder at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The Spanish international was handed his marching orders for a two-footed lunge at Gower during the first half of Chelsea's 4-1 victory.

Gower, 32, managed to avoid any serious contact with Torres and has expressed his relief that he didn't receive an injury from the incident.

"It was not a nice tackle and it was definitely a red card," said Gower. "Thankfully, I have managed to get most of my body out of the way.

"It seemed like a needless tackle at the time. I had half a bad touch so I was stretching. He seemed to lunge in and I caught him out of the corner of my eye and tried to get out of the way.

"His feet came off the floor and there was intent. I've a graze but it won't affect me. I'll be fit for next week."

Torres will now serve a three match suspension for the challenge.