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.
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