It's not often you get yellow-carded after being kicked in the shin off the ball but, for Ireland international Ryan Manning, that was what happened in Swansea's game with Luton Town today.
Manning was on the receiving end of a wild kick from former Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury 28 minutes into what was nearly a disastrous game for Swansea. Incredibly, Lansbury didn't even see red for the kick.
Ryan Manning violently kicked off the ball in Swansea loss
Henri Lansbury, of course, was one of many stars of Arsenal's youth system during the late 2000s, but he ultimately played only eight games for the Gunners before being shipped off on loan deals and, eventually, moving permanently to Nottingham Forest in 2012.
This summer, he made the move from Bristol City to Luton Town - and this incident in the game against Swansea will have certainly caught people's attention, though not in the way Lansbury might have hoped.
The game saw Swansea make a disastrous start. With Luton 3-0 up inside half an hour, Lansbury was lining up a free kick inside his own half when Swansea defender Ryan Manning somewhat pettily kicked the ball away.
Though Manning may have deserved a yellow card for the offence, Lansbury's reaction to the incident was not exactly measured. He sprinted forward and lashed out with a wild kick to the shins.
Decision: Yellow card...😳⚠
Thoughts on this incident in the dramatic Championship clash between Luton Town and Swansea City? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jzRIpbNeCa— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 18, 2021
The reaction of Lansbury's teammate Tom Lockyer to roar in Manning's face while prone on the ground is equally maddening. Amazingly, both Manning and Lansbury were booked for the incident, with Lansbury avoiding a red card despite committing an act of assault on the pitch. It's the kind of thing you'd have been sent to detention for doing at lunchtime in school.
Post-match, Manning took to Twitter to address the incident in hilarious fashion.
Anyone find a shin floating about Luton let me know .. https://t.co/i64O91oP7v
— Ryan Manning (@ryanmanning4) September 18, 2021
Swansea ultimately rallied impressively and managed to snatch a 3-3 draw from the game, with two of the goals coming in the final five minutes. The Swans sit just outside the relegation zone in 21st, while Luton are just outside the top half in 13th - though only three points separate them in the table.
Despite an incredible goalfest of a game at the Liberty Stadium, it was the incident between Ryan Manning and Henri Lansbury that caught the attention of watching fans.
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