WALES boss Chris Coleman has defended Neil Taylor over the challenge that led to Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman suffering a broken leg.

Taylor was sent off following the incident during Friday’s World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which ended 0-0.

Coleman said Taylor was “not that type of player” and revealed he had gone to the Ireland dressing room after the final whistle to apologise to the Irish captain.

He said: "Sadly for Seamus, obviously, it looks like it's a bad one. Neil Taylor is not that type of player. He's had a serious injury himself. He's a great boy, he's a cracking lad.

"I've not seen the challenge, but I've seen the outcome, if you like, and it's a bad one for Seamus, and that's a shame because he's someone I respect. He's one of the best full-backs in the Premier League, so I hope he's not out for too long.

"Of course, Neil Taylor is devastated himself. It's not going to make Seamus feel any better, but Neil is not that type of player and he's pretty devastated about it.

"I'm not sure if Seamus was there, but Neil went at the end of the game across to where the Republic's home changing room is. I think he was looking for Seamus and I'm not sure he got hold of him, but he went over."

South Wales Argus:

Republic boss Martin O'Neill said: "Seamus has gone to hospital. It's been confirmed by our doctor that he has broken his leg. It's a real blow to him.

"He's having the season of a lifetime at club level and he's a big player for us, a great captain and a great character, so it's a big, big loss, a big loss to Everton, a big loss to us.

"But he'll fight back, I hope. That puts things in perspective, I suppose."

Coleman was also forced to defend Gareth Bale following fierce questioning from the Irish media over the Real Madrid man’s late tackle on John O’Shea just before Taylor’s red.

“It was a typically British derby game, there was needle all the way through the game,” added the Wales boss.

“I’m not complaining about that. A couple of your [Ireland] boys were lucky to stay on the pitch, it was a little bit of both. Your boys did not come off with halos above their heads.

“I don’t want to see players suffering serious injury, but it’s a contact sport. If I see it again and it’s a really bad one from Neil…but he’s not that type of boy because he has also suffered a serious injury.

“As for the Bale tackle, I’m going to sit on the fence. I’ve not seen it on television, I’ve only seen it in real time and for me, he has to go for it [the ball].

“I think we are making a bigger deal out of it because it’s Gareth Bale. It was a physical game, there were tackles flying in all game. I don’t want to see anyone sent off, but their tackles flying in everywhere, some from Ireland’s boys, some from our boys.

“We’ll see it one way, Ireland will probably see it another way. We didn’t expect to come here, get the ball down and win by playing pretty football.”