Giggs slams 'naughty' Senegal

Ryan Giggs hit out at Senegal's tough tackling after Team GB kicked off their Olympic campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Joe Allen and Neil Taylor were already nursing injuries before Craig Bellamy was flattened by a reckless lunge from Saliou Ciss on the edge of the box in the second half.

Bellamy had earlier volleyed Team GB into a first-half lead, but Moussa Konate clipped home a neat equaliser with eight minutes left.

But Welsh veteran Gigg was angered by Senegal's robust approach, and he said: "All you want is a bit of protection.

"You don't want anyone to get sent off but there were a few naughty challenges in there and a few of our lads are probably struggling for Sunday now which is disappointing when you only have 18 players to choose from.

"There was no consistency. Craig Bellamy got booked going in for a header and then there were some ridiculous challenges but you don't even see a yellow card.

"I don't know how many fouls Sadio Mane had but in a Premier League game he'd probably have been sent off three times."

But Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said: "From where I was sitting there was nothing in the Bellamy tackle. I know these boys very well and I know they would not do anything harsh.

"I am surprised at what people are saying, given this is Great Britain, where they talk so much about fighting spirit. I can't say I saw a bad tackle on the pitch."

Team GB boss Stuart Pearce felt nerves were responsible for his side's disappointing start.

"I saw nerves before the game," said Pearce. "A lot of our players have played Premier League football, but this cranked it up a bit.

"Late on in the game we ran out of a bit of gas and it went end to end at that stage.

"We would have liked to have gone on [and scored more] after getting our noses in front, but we are still in the mix, it's going to be a wide open group, and we have to take confidence from this.

"Physically, Senegal were a bigger side than us and more powerful. But that's not an excuse, we will come away from the match, have a good look at it and see where we go from there."