Dagenham & Redbridge manager Wayne Burnett believes that Jack Connors's "naivety" was a factor in the teenager getting sent off during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Burton Albion.
The 19-year-old was dismissed in the 54th minute of the League Two clash for committing a second bookable offence on Brewers winger Zeli Ismail.
Burnett reckons that Connors's apologetic reaction after fouling Ismail made it easy for referee Kevin Wright to produce the red card.
"He's a young boy playing at left-back and he's done fantastically well since stepping up from the youth team," Burnett told BBC Sport.
"Jack made a tackle and showed a bit of naivety by putting his hand on head as if to say 'I've made a mistake and you can send me off'."
Cambridgeshire official Wright has now shown 38 yellow cards and two reds during 13 refereeing appointments in the Football League this season.
Written by
Robert Summerscales
Robert Summerscales
