'Very, very unlucky' - Dermot Gallagher delivers verdict on contentious refereeing decision in Brighton win vs Aston Villa

The Seagulls full-back put in another eye-catching display in the 2-1 win at Villa Park, but was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a clumsy challenge on Jack Grealish in injury time at the end of the match.

Reviewing the situation on Sky Sports’ Football Show, however, Gallagher argued that the Brighton man had made an honest attempt to play the ball, and should not have been cautioned for a second time by Michael Oliver.

When asked if the decision was harsh, he said: “I think so. I’ve always said, not every foul is a yellow card, and I think without doubt for me, this foul is definitely not a yellow card.

"He shouldn’t have been sent off. It’s just a foul.

"Whether the referee was too close, he thought he’d come further than he did, he thought he came faster than he did, I don’t know, but I think he’s very, very unlucky.”

Former England Women’s international Sue Smith replied: “It was a really harsh decision.

"You can see that he was making an attempt for the ball.

“Yes, it was a foul, it was a free kick, but I don’t think it was a yellow card and then a sending off.

"He had a fantastic game up until that point as well so I really felt for him on that decision.”

Ex-England full-back Stephen Warnock added: “Yeah, very harsh, very harsh.”