Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has branded midfielder Josh Earl's sending off 'stupid' following Burton Albion's defeat against Sunderland, and says he cannot defend his midfielder.
The Black Cats beat League One basement side Burton 3-0 at the Pirelli Stadium, with goals in the first half-hour from Grant Leadbitter and Lynden Gooch putting them in the driving seat.
But when Earl was shown a second yellow card before the hour for shoving Aiden O'Brien over the advertising hoardings following a tussle between O'Brien and Hayden Carter, the game was up for the Brewers and the in-form Charlie Wyke later added a third goal for the Wearsiders to set the seal on the win.
Burton boss Hasselbaink was scathing about Earl's rush of blood.
“We didn’t start the game well but to get a goal against from a second phase free kick is disappointing, as was the second goal," he said.
"Even though we weren't at the races in that first half hour, those set pieces you need to defend better.
"We started really well in the second half. I had to change the system as we couldn't get a foothold in the game.
"But then Josh gets a second yellow card, and it is stupid how we got that.
"I can't defend him. He has a yellow card, and he needs to stay away from that incident as he knows referees can give cards in those situations.
"And then it becomes very difficult against a Sunderland team [when you are] playing with ten men."
Burton went into the game having won back-to-back games against Hull City and Northampton Town to give them renewed hope of avoiding the drop.
And while Hasselbaink says there is no shame in being beaten 3-0 by the Black Cats, he was angry at the ease with which his side was turned over.
He said: "It's not going to be a smooth ride. It's still a big job [to avoid relegation], it's just the manner of how we conceded the goals that disappoints me.
"It was always going to be hard against Sunderland and it's not a shame to lose 3-0 to them.
"But we are still playing at the Pirelli Stadium and we can't be turned over that easily."
