Swansea's Gorka Pintado (sitting) is shown a red card during the melee

Swansea City will defend a charge of failing to control their players in last Saturday's match at Derby County.

The charge follows a mass confrontation between both sets of players sparked by Swansea's Gorka Pintado, who was sent off for a bad tackle on Robbie Savage.

The Swans have until 5 March to submit evidence to the FA of Wales, while Derby have also been charged by the FA.

"We will be defending ourselves because we didn't do anything wrong," said Swansea manager Paulo Sousa.

Pintado will start a four-match ban against Peterborough on Saturday, after earning his second red card of the campaign for the tackle on former Wales midfielder Savage.

Earlier in the game at Pride Park - won 1-0 by Swansea - the Rams had James McEveley sent off, having been booked twice for poor tackles on Swansea pair Joe Allen and Nathan Dyer.

My players arrived later to separate things and protect Gorka Pintado Swansea manager Paulo Sousa

"I think if you look back to the bad tackle on Joe Allen, none of our players reacted, even though they all thought it was a red card," Sousa told the Swansea website.

"After Gorka's tackle there were a lot of Derby players around him, pushing him to the ground.

"My players arrived later to separate things and protect Gorka, who was on the ground.

"I saw my team's solidarity and, as far as I am concerned, the position is very clear that they didn't do anything wrong.

"We will state our case to the FAW and I am sure we will have a fair hearing.''

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