Former Newcastle United defender James Perch has recalled the time he made Pepe Reina "seeth" during an infamous incident.
In a meeting between Newcastle and Liverpool back in April 2012, the then Reds goalkeeper saw red for an attempted headbutt on Perch.
Two Papiss Cisse goals were enough to hand the hosts a 2-0 win, but the game will always be remembered for Reina’s dismissal in the final 10 minutes.
Collecting a Mike Williamson header, Reina was then fouled by Perch, before the Spaniard squared up to the Newcastle defender, leading with his head.
Referee Martin Atkinson had no hesitation in giving the Reds goalkeeper his marching orders, and with his side having already made all three substitutes, Jose Enrique was forced to go in goal for the remainder of the game.
Reina, who at the time had played 183 consecutive league matches for the Reds, was forced to miss his side’s next three games, including the FA Cup semi-final win over Everton.
But recalling the incident in an interview with Planet Football, Perch has revealed how he did indeed get the Spaniard sent off and how it is one of the most embarrassing moments of his career.
He explained: “I was at centre-half with Willo [Mike Williamson] and I think people thought we wouldn’t do very well and big Andy would bully us. We just got on top of him and we played well.
“The Reina incident was at a time with no VAR, so any contact, you’d go down and try to get players sent off. I’m not the first person to do it.
“If I was to say I was embarrassed about one thing in my career, I wouldn’t do that again now.
“I got Reina sent off, Jose went in goal and we won 2-0 so it was a good thing. Colo and Jonas had to calm Reina down at full time because he was seething. He wanted to kill me!
“I think he’d played about 200 consecutive games for Liverpool at that point, so I ruined his little record as well.
"I got hate mail from Liverpool fans, but I laugh about it now.”
