Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton said he had “no problem” with the red card dished out to Nicholas Ioannou, which saw his team reduced to 10 men against Luton Town.
But he was pleased with the Reds’ fightback, as for a third successive game they came from behind to draw 1-1.
Glen Rea opened the scoring in the 22nd minute at Kenilworth Road, before the visitors saw their numbers reduced just before the break, when Ioannou was dismissed for a challenge on Martin Cranie.
They responded in the second half, however, and earned a battling point as Rea scored at the other end of the pitch, his header going down as an own goal when under pressure from Ryan Yates.
“I have seen it again,” Hughton said of the sending off.
“There was no doubt that Nic, in his endeavours to play the ball, does roll over the top of the ball.
“I don’t have any complaints with it.
“My only thoughts on it are, from what I see, I can’t imagine the referee would have got that good a view on it. And the linesman was a fair bit away.
“Whether he was influenced by the reaction of the Luton players, I don’t know.
“But I don’t have any problems with the sending off, just the manner of it.
“When you see it, there’s no malice in what he’s done. Absolutely not.
“It was a clear attempt to win the ball, and one that he’s just misjudged slightly.
“But I’m absolutely convinced there’s no malice in there.”
The second half comeback made it four games unbeaten for Forest under Hughton.
“I’ve got a group who put in what they needed to put in, in that second half,” he said.
“We made it difficult, with Luton scoring early, but I’m really delighted with what they put in.
“Overall, I think the fact we restricted a Luton side which played for so long with 11 men against 10, to minimal chances was pleasing.
“We deserved what we got.”
