Stoke City striker Michael Owen has defended Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini after his red card at Liverpool.

Coloccini was sent off for a nasty-looking lunge on Liverpool's Luis Suarez at Anfield.

And it led to Sky TV pundit Chris Coleman slamming the Toon skipper. The Wales boss blasted: "That is a scandalous challenge, a coward's challenge.

"Football is a physical game but that was a coward's challenge. He catches his heel but if he catches him higher, then it is serious."

Owen defended one-time team-mate Coloccini on Twitter.

He posted: "Not having that at all. He didn't touch him and to say there was intent is laughable."