Jermaine Pennant today thanked his teammates for grinding out a point in Porto after his second half dismissal.
Pennant was red carded for the first time in his senior career after 58 minutes of last night's
Champions League clash as the Reds began their group campaign with a creditable draw.
Although insisting he didn't deserve to be sent off, Pennant acknowledges he must learn to show more discipline in European competition.
"The referees are harsher in Europe and I was baffled by him all night," said Pennant. "I definitely have to learn from the fact there's a difference in how the referees approach the games in Europe.
In Europe you just have to stay on your feet.
"I didn't think it was the right decision to send me off. It wasn't a yellow card because it wasn't a serious foul, and I didn't touch the Porto player anyway. He made a meal of it, so it was way too harsh. The whistling from the crowd influences the referee and makes his decision easier, probably.
"In the Premiership, it wouldn't have been any more than a goal kick to the other side, not even a free kick.
"It was agony watching the game in the dressing room. I was just thinking 'come on lads, stick it out for me'. They deserve full credit for getting the draw with ten men, which obviously makes it a lot more difficult.
"I'm sure the manager won't hold the sending off against me. I hope it won't go against my name. It's the first time in my senior career I've been sent off. I was once sent off in a friendly under-18 international, but that's the only other time, so my disciplinary record isn't bad."
What was he expecting? 
