JONATHAN Woodgate described as a “slight fracas” Cherries and Watford squaring up to each other at Vitality Stadium and added: “If rugby players are doing it – no-one talks about it.”

Woodgate’s hosts earned a 1-0 victory at Vitality Stadium thanks to Arnaut Danjuma’s 61st minute strike.

But just more than 30 minutes later, the contest erupted when Joao Pedro’s challenge on Jefferson Lerma earned him a second booking and sparked a mass brawl in the aftermath.

Jack Wilshere was also handed a second yellow by referee Tony Harrington for his part in the fracas – shoving Tom Cleverley having already been booked for timewasting.

Asked about the incident which led to both sides finishing with 10 men, Woodgate said: “Let me say this. If rugby players are doing it – no-one talks about it. If football players do, everyone talks about it.

“It’s just one of them things.

“It’s a little tiny fracas – players are passionate about the team and they want to win. It just boils over now and again. It’s nothing from our side, you just get on with it.”

He added: “It shows they are fighting. It shows they are behind one another and getting another 1-0 shows their commitment to the team.

“Watford are a really good team – got some exceptional players – a lot of them are Premier League players.

“Sometimes you’ve got the stand up and fight, see off a bit of pressure but I thought we were worthy winners.”