Notts County boss Neal Ardley says the club will appeal Damien McCrory's red card but can have no complaints about the decision that saw captain Michael Doyle given his marching orders.
The Magpies finished with nine men as they were beaten 1-0 on their National League debut by Eastleigh.
Reda Johnson's 13th-minute header put the Spitfires ahead at the Silverlake Stadium, but it was an off-the-ball altercation between the defender and Notts' Doyle that was the game's main talking point at full-time.
The 37-year-old midfielder was instantly dismissed by referee Carl Brook after he appeared to catch Johnson in the face with his arm.
And it got worse for Ardley's side when debutant McCrory was also sent down the tunnel in stoppage time for a late foul on Cavaghn Miley.
"It is a really poor decision," said Ardley, as he watched a replay of the incident on a laptop.
"I don't know if the referee has got carried away with people shouting at him.
"What has happened is their player has slid along the floor with his studs on the ball, Damien has gone to get the ball and has gone over the top of their guy and was taken out after the event.
"It looks to the referee like Damien has gone in high, but he hasn't.
"We have got some pictures that show exactly what has happened. All we can do is appeal it.
"We should not have a player missing for three games from that."
"I have seen Doyle's and he deserved to be sent off," he continued.
"Michael has swung his arm and he has caught him in the head so that one I can't complain about.
"It is frustrating to lose anyone. We have got a busy schedule of games and not everyone is going to be able to keep going through those Saturday and Tuesday games.
"We have lost a player there, for sure, and an influential one at that."
