Boss hopeful of Bauza reprieve

Roberto Martinez hopes striker Guillem Bauza will win a reprieve and not be banned for Swansea after his red card against Barcelona B.

The Swans boss watched the 23-year-old take his goals tally to 10 in eight pre-season matches as his side secured a 3-3 draw in Catalunya before he was sent off for a second booking with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Martinez has confirmed they approached the referee afterwards and are hoping he does not include the dismissal in his report so Bauza can face Charlton in the Championship opener on August 9.

He told the club's website: "We have spoken to the referee and we are certain Bussy will be available for Charlton.

"To be fair to Bussy, it was a completely different way to referee a game. We have to accept the way some of the Barcelona players were behaving is part of the way the game is played in Spain at times.

"They do not see it as cheating because it is accepted that everyone can make it hard for referees like that. Bussy got sent off for four challenges which the ref thought were above the line, but in the British game they would have had a clap rather than a yellow card."