Motherwell were not happy with the decision to send off Liam Gordon against Celtic.
The centre-back has enjoyed a brilliant start to life at Fir Park after moving on a free transfer from St Johnstone in the summer.
The 28-year-old has started every league game and been a standout defensively in most of them during what has been a strong start to the season for Stuart Ketlewell’s men.
According to Fot Mob, he is top of the starts chart for aerial duels won for a centre-back and in the top five per cent for defensive actions.
Motherwell decide not to appeal Liam Gordon red card vs Celtic
But, unfortunately for the defender, he was sent off in the defeat to Celtic at the weekend.
He was given his marching orders with the game already gone for his side in the 93rd minute.
Gordon caught Adam Idah on the ankle with a late and heavy challenge and despite referee David Dickinson giving him a yellow card, it was upgraded to a red after a VAR check.
Motherwell have decided against appealing the decision.
Assistant boss Stephen Frail said: “It was an unfortunate incident. Liam has played over 250 games and it’s only his second red card. His first one against Livingston was overturned.
“So he was upset with the decision. We looked at it. The tackle’s gone in, he’s been given a red card and we lose him for two league games but the big thing for us is he’s available for Sunday.
“It was late in the game. Liam has made an attempt to get the ball. It looks like he’s at the length of his stretch to try and win it. Unfortunately he has caught him on his ankle. We have moved on from it and hopefully there’s no ill effects for the Celtic player.”
Stuart Kettwell told he was wrong on Liam Gordon sending off
Kettlewell was not happy with the decision and insisted his player was harshly treated over a challenge that looked worse than it was on the replays.
He said: “We’ll all have a view on it, I just feel it’s so harsh to give the red card. I think at the time the referee has a look at it, you can see that obviously big Liam has made contact with the Celtic attacker.
“But the first thing that you start to see on the screen is still images and it looks bad, of course, we all say that, sometimes it looks bad.
“I spoke to the referee after in a really calm fashion just to ask what he’s seen in the challenge.
“He spoke about injuring the Celtic player’s ankle, but probably my counter argument to that is you’re talking about Liam Gordon at full stretch at that point, no real any force whatsoever and actually just trying to get a toe end on the ball.
“Now, I acknowledge that he doesn’t get that toe end on the ball, which I thought he did at the time, but I don’t think he’s come in with any kind of reckless intent, I don’t think he’s come in there to try and injure the Celtic player.
“We can look at these things a million times on a screen, I think the referee got it right at the time when he awards Celtic the foul and he gives the yellow card.”
But the Steelmen boss was quickly told he was wrong on that front as pundit Marvin Bartley shot his argument down. He added Well would be wasting time and money with an appeal.
He told BBC Sportscene: “I think when he sees from the different angles he’ll understand exactly why it’s been given as a red card.
“I must admit, from first seeing it and watching it live, I thought it was just a booking.
“You look at the different angles and it’s a terrible tackle. I’ve made a lot of tackles within my time, so I’m one to talk, but as soon as you leave the floor and you catch someone at the height he catches Adam Idah, you have to be sent off.
“And the referee and VAR made the right decision there. Once Stuart Kettlewell sees it back he’ll understand exactly why he’s sent him off.
“I don’t think they’ll be putting an appeal in because it’ll be a waste of money in my view.”