Wayne Hennessey was left "devastated" by his red card for Wales in their World Cup defeat to Iran, according to international team-mate Danny Ward.
The 35-year-old Nottingham Forest goalkeeper saw an initial yellow card upgraded to a red by referee Mario Escobar following a VAR review of a challenge on Iran striker Mehdi Taremi.
Hennessey rushed out of his penalty area after a long ball was played behind the Welsh defence, but caught Taremi with a high foot while attempting to clear the ball.
Ward, the Leicester City keeper who was on the bench for Wales in Qatar, was brought on as a replacement, but Iran made their one-man advantage count as they went on to claim a 2-0 victory with a brace of added time goals. Wales must now beat England on Tuesday to have any hope of progressing to the knock-out stages of the competition.
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Ward later told the BBC of Hennessey's reaction to his dismissal and Wales' eventual defeat. "He's absolutely devastated, which I think anyone would be in that instance," he said.
"He's had to make a decision and I think he's unlucky and it's a bit harsh [the red card]. Obviously, with the way the rulings are now, it is what it is. Throughout the whole group of players and staff, we'll get round Wayne as he didn't deserve that."
