Kevin Nolan blasted the decision to send off Jack Perkins in Northampton’s 2-1 defeat at Peterborough as “ridiculous”.
The Cobblers boss was left angered after Perkins was dismissed for a high foot on Peter Kioso after just 10 minutes.
Harry Leonard put Peterborough in charge with a brace either side of half-time.
But the Cobblers showed plenty of fight and pulled one back through Tom Eaves to set up a nervous final 20 minutes.
“We deserved more and possibly could have got more if it wasn’t for a ridiculous decision from the match officials,” Nolan said.
“I could see from where I was that he hadn’t hit him in the head, so I don’t know what the assistant referee has said.
“I’m really angry because my lads have given everything today. It is a testament to the lads for all their hard work.
“If we had had 11 men we would have shown an even better example of ourselves. I’m just really frustrated because that moment has changed the game.
“Then I pick up a yellow card at the end of the game because of the frustrations of what they have done and their poor decision.
“There are just too many now, it is a very poor decision and it has come back to bite us.
“There is learning for us to do as well. Conceding a goal in first-half stoppage time is not ideal after holding out for 36 minutes.
“We had to get into half-time at 0-0. We pulled the game back a bit at the end but two moments have cost us.”
Peterborough manager Luke Williams was disappointed that his side failed to see out the game more easily.
“After we conceded, the mentality of the team was wrong and the last half hour was disappointing,” he said.
“They did everything they could to come up with solutions at half-time, but we scored a goal at a great time. From then on it was quite disappointing.
“Northampton did everything, they were smart and reacted to the setback, they tried to regroup, but it was us that made the error that led to their goal.
“The emotion, that was wrong. The guys on the pitch need to be in more control, then we see nervy actions followed by nervy actions.
“We didn’t take the great chances we created and we have to try and learn from that. Harry (Leonard) has got such high attacking instincts and took the first goal so well.
“We can all see the equality the boy has. If you combine the quality with the relentless work-rate and the ambition of the boy and his character, then I think we have a really good combination.”
