BEATEN Morecambe manager Jim Bentley hit out at the red card shown to Jamie Devitt - and said the dismissal came after the winger was wound up by Wanderers' Peter Murphy.

Devitt was shown a straight red for slapping the Blues midfielder on the back of the head after Murphy confronted him over a foul that had just been committed on Max Kretzschmar.

Bentley disagreed with the decision to send Devitt off and pointed the finger at Murphy for his role in the dismissal.

He said: "Peter Murphy’s got the knack of doing that. That's the way he is, and I wouldn't mind a bit of that myself.

"He’s good at it, it’s an art. Over the years the likes of Robbie Savage and people like that have always been niggly and got people into trouble.

"He’s got involved in a situation that had nothing to do with him. First of all he’s had a little nibble at Andy Fleming and then he’s gone over to Devitt and next thing we’re down to ten men.

"But that’s part and parcel of the game."

Morecambe have today said they are considering appealing against the red card, which came at a time when they were threatening to get back into the game.

Fleming had not long scored to make it 2-1 to Wanderers and Devitt was proving a thorn in Blues' side with some skilful wing play.

Bentley said: "If that’s a sending off we’d be playing eight against eight every week.

"Devitt’s six stone wet through, he’s not a fighter, not an aggressive player, he’s a more cultured skilful player.

"It’s killed the game but it is what it is."