Tomas Repka has apologised for the red card he received on his long
awaited West Ham debut - but says that it was not justified.
"I am sorry - but I couldn't believe the sending off," says the Czech international, who beat a race against time to get clearance to play at the Riverside after putting pen to paper on a five year contract on Friday.
Tomas received his first booking after it was deemed by Mike Riley that he had touched the ball with his hand after sliding into a tackle.
But the card was for dissent as the referee judged Tomas to have kicked the ball away following the decision to award a free kick to Middlesbrough.
"It was a case of just knocking the ball five yards, and I got a booking with nearly my first touch," he says.
The second yellow card followed a tangle between Tomas and Boro striker Dean Windass
"For the red, I was holding his shorts and couldn't believe I got a card," says the Hammers' record signing.
"But I am more sorry for the players and the fans that we lost - if you get a red card you feel terrible."
Now he is setting his sights on making a home debut against Newcastle on Sunday in happier circumstances, and adds:
"I trained for the first time only on Friday and it wasn't easy to get an understanding with the other players.
"The away support was good and now I am looking forward very much to playing in front of the home fans as well.
"I want to be 100% ready for the game with Newcastle."
And his verdict on football in England after his truncated debut?
"The Premiership is much quicker and more physical than the Italian league," he says.
"I am sorry - but I couldn't believe the sending off," says the Czech international, who beat a race against time to get clearance to play at the Riverside after putting pen to paper on a five year contract on Friday.
Tomas received his first booking after it was deemed by Mike Riley that he had touched the ball with his hand after sliding into a tackle.
But the card was for dissent as the referee judged Tomas to have kicked the ball away following the decision to award a free kick to Middlesbrough.
"It was a case of just knocking the ball five yards, and I got a booking with nearly my first touch," he says.
The second yellow card followed a tangle between Tomas and Boro striker Dean Windass
"For the red, I was holding his shorts and couldn't believe I got a card," says the Hammers' record signing.
"But I am more sorry for the players and the fans that we lost - if you get a red card you feel terrible."
Now he is setting his sights on making a home debut against Newcastle on Sunday in happier circumstances, and adds:
"I trained for the first time only on Friday and it wasn't easy to get an understanding with the other players.
"The away support was good and now I am looking forward very much to playing in front of the home fans as well.
"I want to be 100% ready for the game with Newcastle."
And his verdict on football in England after his truncated debut?
"The Premiership is much quicker and more physical than the Italian league," he says.