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Neil Warnock has spoken to Joe Bennett after admitting he didn’t realise how severe his controversial tackle on Leroy Sane was.

And he has insisted he would never condone that type of challenge after initially believing it was a just a cynical trip.

Cardiff City defender Bennett has been thrown into the spotlight for his challenge on Sane during the Bluebirds’ 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Bennett escaped with a booking for the incident with many believing he should have seen straight red with Sane fortunate not to suffer real injury.

The Germany winger faces up to a month out with Pep Guardiola angry at a failure to protect players.

Warnock’s initial response was to say that the tackle was simply typical of the British game, but made his comments before viewing a replay of the incident.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

And he says he was surprised at Bennett, who later received a second yellow for another lunge at a City player, substitute Brahim Diaz, believing the occasion of the fourth round glamour tie got to the full-back.

“When I watched it live I thought it was a yellow card,” Warnock said. “I thought it was just a trip to stop the counter attack and it was a yellow because he’s made no attempt to play the ball.

“I made my comments without seeing it back and I’ve come in for a bit of stick, but having watched it from the other angle for the first time I can’t condone tackles like that.

“I was annoyed more because I thought Sane was going away from goal with a man covering him but I thought it was just cynical – looking at it back it’s a bad tackle.”

Warnock did hit out at Bennett for his second yellow in injury time, angry he made such a challenge when on a yellow card that will see him suspended for Saturday’s Championship trip to Leeds. He called it at the time “pathetic” and “disrespectful to teammates”.

It was Bennett’s first sending off in more than five years, the 27-year-old former Aston Villa man having received just four cautions in 50 Cardiff appearances before Sunday.

And Warnock revealed: “I’ve spoken to him to let him know my disappointment about both. He’s apologised publicly but the tackles are just not him. He’s not been sent off in five years and it’s not in his nature. I think the occasion just got to him.”