American defender Carlos Bocanegra was red-carded for what The Sun described as a ''horror tackle'' on Aston Villa's Mark Delaney in Fulham's 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

ENGLAND

* Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, PL) vs. Aston Villa, 1-2.

Started: 75 minutes. Red-carded for foul on Mark Delaney, who suffered a badly bruised leg. Fulham was down, 2-1, at the time of the ejection.

''It was a disgusting tackle and I was outraged,'' Aston Villa coach David O'Leary told The Sun.

''I would like to say to Mark in public that I am sorry,'' Bocanegra said. ''I spoke to him [Delaney] on the team bus after the game and he was feeling a little better. His leg was wrapped up but they think he is going to be all right and I hope it works out for him. Hopefully he will heal quickly.''

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 5.

Season league stats: 4 games, 0 goals.

Fulham is in 8th place.

* Brian McBride (Fulham, PL) at Southampton, 0-0.

Started: 90 minutes.

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 6.

Season league stats: 3 games, 1 goal.

Fulham is in 8th place.

* Brad Friedel (Blackburn, PL) vs. Newcastle, 1-1.

Started: 90 minutes.

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 6.

Season league stats: 25 games.

Blackburn is in 14th place.

* Kasey Keller (Tottenham, PL) at Charlton, 4-2.

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 7.

Season league stats: 25 games.

Tottenham is in 11th place.

* Claudio Reyna (Manchester City, PL) at Liverpool, 1-2.

Started: 90 minutes.

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 5.

Manchester Evening News rating (10 high; 1 low): 6. ''Busy all night with mixed success, but [Liverpool midfielders] Hamann and Gerrard knew they had been in a real battle.''

Season league stats: 14 games; 1 goal.

Manchester City is in 16th place, three points above the relegation zone.

* Tim Howard (Manchester United, PL) vs. Middlesbrough, 2-3.

Started: 90 minutes. Howard was faulted on Middlebrough's opening goal, the first of Juninho's two strikes.

The Sun rating (10 high; 1 low): 5.

Season league stats: 25 games.

Manchester United is in 2nd place, five points behind leader Arsenal.