Phillip Cocu has criticised West Bromwich Albion defender Dara O'Shea after Derby County's 2-0 defeat to the Baggies on Wednesday night.
O'Shea helped Albion secure a 2-0 win and restore their five-point gap between themselves and third-placed Brentford on Wednesday evening.
The Irishman headed home Matheus Pereira's corner in the 76th minute to secure all three points, after Grady Diangana had put Slaven Bilic's side ahead on 11 minutes.
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O'Shea was then involved in a major flashpoint in the dying embers of the game, where he played a part in Louie Sibley's straight red card for Derby.
After the pair were involved in a challenge, Sibley got his leg caught between O'Shea's legs, and the young midfielder seemingly pulled his leg out quite aggressively.
The referee adjudged Sibley to have kicked O'Shea, and he was shown a straight red card to round off a frustrating night for the Rams.
Speaking after the game, though, Cocu was evidently furious at the decision, and gave an honest opinion on O'Shea's theatrics.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, he said: "I've seen it now, closer, because my image it was long-distance so it was hard to see.
"I also believed it was not a red card, at that moment, but now I am 200 per cent convinced. It's even a disgrace he gets a red card.
"If you are, what, with two linesmen and a referee close to the situation and you give a red card. I asked him after the game if they were pretty sure it was a red card and they said 'yeah, he kicked him'.
"To send off a youngster like that - some will say the West Brom player is clever by this provocation. I think it's sad that you need, with a 2-0 score.
"So my beliefs, not only in this situation, if it was my player I would suggest the same, if you simulate in that way, why can't you get a punishment after when the footage has been seen on television?"
The Verdict
It was a really controversial decision and I don't think Sibley deserved to get sent off to be honest.
His leg was trapped in-between O'Shea's and he pulled it out, and O'Shea looked to make a meal out of it in my view.
Derby should look to appeal the decision and get Sibley back available for the final four games of the season, as he has become an important player under Cocu.