Marc Albrighton: I'm no cheat

Marc Albrighton today insisted he is not a cheat and was "hurt" by the backlash that followed his part in Karl Henry's sending-off during Villa's win at Wolves.

Wolves midfielder Henry was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver after he backheeled Albrighton in the chest while the winger was on the ground.

Albrighton rolled around the pitch in pain, but the young winger was taunted by the Wolves crowd for the remainder of the contest and criticised by sections of the media afterwards for a perceived over-reaction.

"It does hurt a lot, especially when people in the crowd call you a cheat when I was the victim out of it all, on the floor getting kicked!" said Albrighton.

"It hurt when I read the papers on Sunday and Monday. But I suppose that's football – you have to take the criticism and what gets thrown at you.

"I am sure it won't be the last time I get a bit of stick from the fans either. I am not looking forward to going back to Wolves next year! It can be scary. I went to take a corner not long after the incident and I had one side giving me dog's abuse and the other side singing my name.

"It isn't nice, no-one wants to be booed and called a cheat but it's part and parcel of the game these days. It does spur you on to do better when people are booing you and calling you a cheat."

Albrighton does not hold anything against Henry who he felt got caught up in the emotion of a passionate Midlands derby. He added: "It was a pretty hard kick and it definitely winded me. He just maybe lost his head a little bit. I hold no grudges against him whatsoever."