JIM Duffy believes referee Kevin Clancy was wrong to send off Gary Harkins in Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Motherwell — and says the decision ruined the game as a contest.

Harkins was shown a straight red card for a foul on Craig Tanner but Duffy reckons his player was right to go for the 
ball. 

But referee Clancy adjudged the midfield playmaker’s studs to be showing and his boot in a dangerous position and sent him off.

Ton boss Duffy insists that despite his side already being 2-0 down before the red card, it killed off any hopes of a competitive game after half-time.

He said: “I didn’t think it was a sending-off.

“I don’t think there was any contact with the Motherwell player, it was a yellow card possibly but at the start of the season sometimes referees are a little bit stricter with things.

“We were already 2-0 down, so I’m not saying we would’ve won the game, but we could’ve competed with 11 men. 

“We couldn’t do that because they were too big, too strong and physical. All we were trying to do was damage limitation and gain a little bit of respectability, that’s all we could do in the second half.

“The referee had made his mind up, he’s in his back pocket straight away, so I don’t think the boy [Craig Tanner] milked it because he was up quite quickly. 

“But it’s all about angles, the referee has seen it from a different angle. It didn’t affect the scoreline or who would’ve won, but it did affect it as a contest and a competition.

“Credit to the players, they never threw the towel in, that’s the one piece of solace I’ll take. 

“But Motherwell coasted the second half.

“Derek Gaston had two or three great saves. It looked good for Motherwell, but we were decimated with injury at the back, Gary getting sent off as well, Gary Oliver missing as well, so when you come to places like this you need your best players available and we’re nowhere near that. 

“It would’ve been a tough test with everyone.”

Duffy added: “We lost a goal in the first three minutes and that’s criminal against a good side. 

“It gives them the confidence, allows the home fans to settle and it we should have dealt with it.”