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    Football - McManaman isn't nasty - Martinez

    Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is confident striker Callum McManaman will not face retrospective punishment for his horror challenge on Newcastle's Massadio Haidara.

    The 20-year-old escaped censure from referee Mark Halsey after a knee-high tackle on the Magpies substitute in the first half of their crucial 2-1 victory.

    Newcastle boss Alan Pardew claimed at half-time Halsey apologised to him "if he missed anything" but Martinez is confident his striker will not receive a ban - which would rule him out of their historical Wembley FA Cup semi-final - as a result of television evidence.

    "What you need to look at in those incidents is if there is intention, a nastiness about the tackle. We are not a nasty team," he said.

    "He (McManaman) has not a nasty bone and is not bad-intentioned.

    "The referee was in a perfect position, he is looking at the incident, where the ball is and where the ball is hitting.

    "When you get the ball and then there is a follow-up it is very difficult for a panel to punish that."

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