Birmingham City manager John Eustace thought that the red card for Lukas Jutkiewicz was ‘harsh’’ in their 3-1 home defeat to Cardiff in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Cardiff had taken the lead within three minutes courtesy of Welsh international Rubin Colwill.
Then ten minutes into the second half Jutkiewicz was shown a straight red card by referee Leigh Doughty after a tackle on right-back Mahlon Romeo.
“I thought it was very harsh from where I was,” Eustace told the Birmingham Mail. “I think Jukey was pushed over at the start so he was rolling over and then he’s turned to try and get the ball and he’s caught the lad on the back of the legs.
“(The referee) has got a job to do and it is a harsh red card, of course it is, but it’s something we will have to look at and decide whether to appeal it.”
“I saw it very quickly just before coming in here so I will have to have a good look tonight and in the morning.”
Jutkiewicz is now set to miss Blues’ next three games against Millwall, Watford and Preston. Once they have reviewed the footage, Eustace and his team will decide whether to appeal the decision or not.
John Eustace on Carabao Cup exit
On Blues’ exit in the Carabao Cup, Eustace continued by saying: “I felt they caused us some problems in the first 20 minutes. The early goal certainly helped them as well. After that I thought we grew into it with our press. We still need to be better in the final third.
“In the second half we were positive and I thought we started well. Then the red card obviously changed the game.”
Birmingham’s next game is at home to Millwall on Saturday lunchtime.