Gary Neville explains difference with Curtis Jones tackle as Mateo Kovacic avoids red card

Gary Neville believes Mateo Kovacic was lucky to avoid a red card for his challenge on Arsenal's Martin Odegaard

City midfielder Kovacic slid in on Odegaard, catching the Norway international late with his studs showing

The incident was then checked by John Brooks on VAR but to the surprise of many supporters, they decided not to intervene and he stayed on

Neville even initially suggested that Kovacic's challenge was worse than the one that Curtis Jones saw red

an appeal from the club, which was rejected by the FA, leaving Jones to serve a three-match ban.

Neville, after seeing Kovacic make similar contact with Odegaard, said:

"Last week (Jones) was similar. But I thought that was a genuine challenge for the ball. This one is different. He's not getting there."

Neville added: "I think there was just enough doubt. It wasn't a definite red. It was orange. He followed through into the ankle. He didn't need to do that."