Paul Coutts is set to miss the rest of the season, including any potential play-off fixtures, for Bristol Rovers after receiving a late red card in the dramatic 4-3 win at Rochdale on Saturday.
The captain was dismissed for violent conduct deep into stoppage time after an off-the-ball incident involving an opposition player as tensions boiled over following Aaron Collins' 95th-minute winner at Spotland as Joey Barton's side came from 3-1 down.
Coutts is set to receive the mandatory three-match suspension and an additional game will be added to the ban as it is Coutts' second red card of the season. He was shown a straight red card at Mansfield Town on the opening day of the campaign.
Should a four-match ban be upheld, Coutts will miss the final game of the regular season against Scunthorpe and the entirety of the play-offs, if that is the route promotion-chasing Rovers are forced to take.
Barton was disappointed for his captain but is relieved to have a player of former Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan's quality and experience ready to step in.
"The lad, he (Coutts) said, barged him in the back and he’s a bit bigger than him and grabbed hold of him," Barton told reporters at full time when asked about the incident.
"But you can’t give the referee the option. You’ve got to stay incredibly disciplined and it’s tough in the midst of the emotion and the occasion.
"I thought it was strange for them, I don’t know what they have to gain. They’re going on their holidays in seven days’ time and the season is finished and they’re trying to get our lad sent off, who could still have semi-finals or play-offs or whatever.
"We’ll have to learn those lessons. Couttsy’s disappointed in there but sitting behind that you’ve got 92-cap Glenn Whelan, who’s been kicking his heels desperate for an opportunity, so it’s not like we’re putting a 19-year-old kid in there.
"Whelo has done really well when he has gone in there and gives me that option. I might go that way, I might not. I might drop Billy (Elliot Anderson) in there and bring one of the wingers in."
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