WANDERERS boss Gareth Ainsworth said defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge hinged on a ‘poor decision’ to send off Anthony Stewart.

Blues have announced this evening they intend to appeal against the red card shown to the young defender by referee Keith Stroud early in the second half of the defeat at Victoria Road.

It’s the fourth red to be brandished by the official this season but Ainsworth and his captain Stuart Lewis both felt the decision to dismiss Stewart – and award a penalty that effectively killed the game as a contest as the Daggers went 2-0 up – was incorrect.

Ainsworth said: “I think it’s a poor decision. Anthony Stewart is adamant he got the ball first before anything. It’s a very, very soft penalty.

“All my players are distraught in there. They are all saying no chance. Anthony got the ball, he’s not taken the man out. The whole game has hinged on that, because I thought the last 20 minutes of the first half we were on top hugely. Second half we were the better side with ten men, and that’s changed the whole context of the game and the scoreline.

“I know it’ll go down as a defeat but it’s hard to take. We feel really hard done by. I’m proud of the way the lads applied themselves. The fans were fantastic and anybody who was at the game today can’t say any more than what I’ve just said – the boys played well today, really gave it their all. For want of a decision going the other way for us, I think we’d have got something out of it today.”

Lewis added: “It’s a poor decision. It’s quite clear Anthony Stewart got the ball. Everyone here was surprised with the red card and the penalty decision. There’s no beating about the bush, it’s tough to take.”

Stewart’s red card is the fifth to be picked up by Wanderers in 18 League Two matches this season.