Hughes has tackling issues

MARK HUGHES yesterday accused some players of putting their fellow professionals’ health at risk with the kind of reckless tackling the Fulham boss believes has crept into the game.

This season has seen a spate of controversial challenges in the Barclays Premier League, with the past week no exception.

Fulham’s Clint Dempsey was the victim of the latest of them on Wednesday night when Chelsea’s Michael Essien was sent off for a two-footed lunge on the United States midfielder.