Former QPR striker Jamie Mackie believes Bolton Wanderers skipper Ricardo Santos' second yellow card against Port Vale was a 'touch harsh' but felt he could have allowed Ellis Harrison to go and let others deal with him.
Wanderers could have taken the lead early on but Dapo Afolayan's effort was parried wide by Jack Stevens. But the Whites were reduced to 10 men when Santos was shown a second yellow card.
Santos was shown his first following Nathan Smith going to ground from a corner. But controversy followed with his second booking by referee Ross Joyce which appeared to be harsh after Ellis Harrison appeared to go to ground easily.
READ MORE: James Trafford's verdict on Ricardo Santos' Bolton Wanderers red card & Port Vale draw
After the break, Aaron Morley called Stevens into action with a fantastic save. The Valiants were the more dominant side but Trafford came to their aid with a sublime stop from Harrison as Wanderers held out to claim a point.
Mackie, now a pundit, felt the dismissal was perhaps a harsh one and was not sure Santos deserved a second booking for the challenge. But he also believes that with George Johnston covering, Santos could have afforded to let Harrison by him for his team mate to cover.
Speaking on the EFL Highlights show on ITV4, Mackie said: "I think just from the nature of playing against 10 men, I think people assume you should win, but sometimes it galvanises the other team and then they become resolute and hard to beat.
"I think there Santos, I'm not so sure it's a second yellow. I think it's a touch harsh, but he did have Johnston covering and maybe he should just let the striker go on and not foul him."
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