ANDREW Surman admitted he feared a red card from referee Jonathan Moss after his altercation with Chris Wilder on the touchline at Sheffield United.

The Cherries vice-skipper, making his first top-flight start since March, was seen to exchange pushes with the Blades boss, which saw them both booked.

Explaining the incident to BBC Radio Solent, Surman said: “I was trying to get the ball and their assistant was holding it behind his back.

“When I tried to go, he (Wilder) stepped in front and sort of came towards me. I hardly touched him to be fair. It was all handbags.

“I was actually a little bit worried the referee might send me off, which would have been the wrong decision I think.”

Wilder added: “I got a little bit frustrated. Bit and pieces went off, which has happened right the way through.

“I’m not used to it. Maybe I need to get used to it a little bit more. It was nothing, we are both passionate teams.

“Certainly, there is no issue with the benches. A little bit of an altercation but then we went again.”

Also quizzed on the incident during his side’s 2-1 defeat, Cherries boss Eddie Howe added: “It was nothing. It was a little bit of a misunderstanding.

“I think Andrew wanted the ball back – there was no problem with Chris either. I think it was a genuine moment over absolutely nothing.”