Liverpool loanee involved in bizarre derby-day clash as rival 'takes chunk' out of him with alleged bite
The Liverpool youngster was right in the thick of a fierce local derby on Sunday.
On-loan Liverpool defender Owen Beck was at the centre of a controversial coming together as tempers spilled over during Blackburn Rovers’ 0-0 draw at Preston North End on Sunday.
Beck was shown a straight red card in the 89th-minute of Sunday’s Lancashire derby at Deepdale, having taken a swipe at Preston’s Duane Holmes after play had already been stopped for a free-kick. That challenge saw an already feisty affair boil over and Milutin Osmajic appeared to see red.
The Preston striker, who was initially fouled before Beck’s challenge, leaped up and grabbed Beck before appearing to plant his face in the back of his neck. And as referee Matt Donohue weighed up what action to take, Beck can be seen pleading with the assistant referee, pulling the back of his shirt down and saying: "I've got a bite mark."
Osmajic was booked for his role in the clash, although it is unclear whether the alleged bite was spotted or whether he saw yellow for more general dissent. But speaking after full-time, Blackburn boss John Eustace pulled no punches in detailing what he saw.
"I haven't really seen it, he went to clear the ball and possibly caught the lad," Eustace told The Lancashire Telegraph of Beck’s sending off. "He's got a big bite mark on the back of his neck. It's a shame the referee didn't see that as well. He's got a big bite mark. He has been in and shown the lads.
“He's very disappointed to be sent off and you don't expect him to have that either. He's a bit quiet in there and a bit shaken up. I don't know if he spoke to the referee, I'm not sure if it was before or after the red. He might want to speak to the officials about it.
"It's a very serious incident, nobody likes to be bitten. Everyone is angry about it, it's not a nice situation to be in. I'm sure the right people will see it and deal with it.”
It remains to be seen whether Osmajic’s part in the clash will be reviewed but the Preston striker could face a retrospective ban, if found to have bitten Beck. It is a reaction Liverpool fans know all too well, having seen Luis Suarez banned for 10 games after biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in 2013.
Beck will miss Blackburn’s upcoming games against QPR, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle for his sending off with a three-match ban usually given for violent conduct. That is unless the Championship side lodge a successful appeal.