Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher felt the red card shown to Jordan Thompson was “a little bit unnecessary” and “spoilt the game”.

Northern Ireland international Thompson, 26, already booked for a foul on Kayden Jackson in the first half, was dismissed for indicating to replacement referee Thomas Bramall that he should yellow-card Conor Chaplin for a foul, leading to his second caution and then a red card.

“I just felt it was a little bit unnecessary,” Schumacher said. “I think it wasn't a clear and obvious one.

“The referee is saying that Jordan's waved an imaginary card. I didn't see that. I think Jordan put his hands up but that's what he’s said he’s seen.

“I asked the fourth official if he’d seen it and he said no. Not many people in the stadium have seen it. I just felt it was a little bit unnecessary and, if anything it kind of spoiled the game a little bit.”

He added: “I didn't think [it was a game with any malice or nasty challenges], not really, I didn’t think so.

“Even Jordan's first yellow card, it was the first tackle of the game [on Jackson] and was just a coming together. I don't know whether that was even worthy of a yellow card and I'll probably have to watch it back.

“But I just felt, unfortunately, it spoiled our attacking flow and from a neutral’s point of view, it just spoilt the game.

“But credit to the players, they stuck in, didn’t let it affect them and managed to work hard and keep the door shut and keep Ipswich out, and deserved the point in the end.”

Like McKenna, the former Plymouth boss, now unbeaten in four games since departing Home Park for the bet365 Stadium, felt it was a hard-fought match.

“Absolutely, which we knew it was going to be because Ipswich are a top team and they’re in their position in the league for a reason, because they are one of the best teams,” he said.

“We’ve had to work really hard to understand how to press them and try and be organised behind the ball.

“But I thought we were also really good with the ball, especially early on in the game, I thought we were excellent.

“If we’d had scored when we were on top, that would have given everyone more belief and more confidence, but the players are giving us everything that they can at the moment.

“Physically it’s hard, it’s demanding and to play the fourth game in 10 days, to play at that intensity level is really tough, so I’m really pleased for them.”

Photo: TWTD

Radlett_blue added 19:12 - Jan 1 If asking for an opposition player to be yellow carded is a yellow card offence (btw it is) you can't have any complaints. Of course, some referees don't enforce this penalty & therein lies the problem. If all referees did enforce the penalty, then players would change their behaviour & managers wouldn't moan about inconsistency.
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SouperJim added 19:42 - Jan 1 Saw the replay on TownTV, not only did he make the gesture for yellow card *twice*, the ref then went over and spoke to him and only then booked him again based on his reply. Looked to me like he admitted it to the ref or incriminated himself with his response. Got nothing to complain about other than their own lack of discipline.
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redrickstuhaart added 20:02 - Jan 1 Has a nerve to complain about the first yellow. Should have been red.
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oldbri added 21:09 - Jan 1 I agree. It was Unnecessary as it should have been a red for the high boot.
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oldbri added 21:09 - Jan 1 I agree. It was Unnecessary as it should have been a red for the high boot.
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Europablue added 21:38 - Jan 1 I'm not a big fan of Schumacher. There's something slippery about him. I much prefer our straight-talking KM. The bad thing is, Stoke were more open when they had the full 11 and we struggled to break them down once they had to hang on for the point.
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rugbytomc added 21:43 - Jan 1 Could easily have been a red for the first challenge as others have said or a yellow for handball because Chaplin didn’t foul him. Schumacher always whingy because everyone talked about Ipswich not Plymouth last season
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MickMillsTash added 07:42 - Jan 2 The way he complained after the sending off he could have been booked twice more.
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bluesnightorg added 08:33 - Jan 2 That’s the thing with imaginary cards, Steve. You can’t see them.
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Linkboy13 added 09:12 - Jan 2 Should have been off much earlier was dishing it out all game.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 09:41 - Jan 2 Why can't we just admit that it was a soft second yellow - we would be fuming if it happened to one of our players! Sure, that's the letter of the law but we can all point to 5 or 10 instances of players asking for bookings every match. I wish refs did book each time, as it would stop it. Same with players responding with 'f1ck off' to every foul.
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Eeyore added 10:14 - Jan 2 Refs have become inconsistent. For instance a Stoke player very clearly and obviously kicked a ball away in frustration. I thought refs were ordered to give a yellow. No discretion? Then near the end they were given a couple of soft free kicks for falling over when touched. Refs are supposed to let that go. Then a clear shirt pull on woofenden in their penalty area prevented him from getting the ball (clearly seen from where I was at the side of the pitch, and right infront of the linesman). Though I have never rated Jackson, for some reason defenders can do absolutely anything to him and the ref is never interested. Same was happening to Hirst. This league would only suit forwards in the Akinbiyi/ Traoré mould who are stronger than any centre half. Players con the ref by throwing themselves down when they feel a touch on their back, free kick usually still given despite the obvious deception. Both arms round a player and wrestled to the ground, acceptable contact ! Sadly I have to say that VAR would improve the Championship if the refs can’t improve.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:38 - Jan 2 If that's the rule, then Schumacher has nothing to complain about. I'm so fed up with managers who cannot give an unbiased view of a game. KMcK is largely an exception to this and I really respect him for that. Another gripe is all the ridiculous free kicks given these days for players falling over at the tiniest touch. Up to a point, it's a contact sport, for god's sake, and some contact should be allowed without this leading to reprisals that break up the flow of the game.

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