DISMAYED Yann Kermorgant has labelled as “a joke” the ban that has ruled him out of a reunion with former club Charlton Athletic.

The Frenchman will serve the first of a three-game suspension after he was red carded by referee Andre Marriner for a high-footed challenge on Mark Davies in the 2-1 win at Bolton a fortnight ago.

Kermorgant, who joined Cherries in January following two-and-a-half years at The Valley, where he established cult hero status, feels he was handed a harsh penalty.

He told the Daily Echo: “For me, it’s a joke. If a player makes a tackle from behind and injures a player on purpose, or loses his head or does something very silly, he will also get a red card and a three-game ban.

“You could see I was looking at the ball. It was an accident and the player was not injured. I didn’t touch him with my foot or studs, I touched him with my hip because I pulled my foot away when I saw it was too late to stop my jump.

“For me, three games is quite a lot. It should have been a one-game ban.

“Lee Camp got sent off for a handball outside the box (against Derby) and I think it’s more comparable with that than a bad tackle or something very dangerous.”

Unable to test the rearguard of the Addicks, Kermorgant admits he will be a frustrated spectator at Dean Court tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

And the 32-year-old warned his team-mates to expect a tough examination from a side that is one of two Championship teams yet to suffer a league defeat this season.

He said: “Of course this weekend is disappointing as Charlton was my last club and my former team-mates and friends are there.

“I follow their results and keep in touch with a few of the players, so I know exactly how they have been doing. I will watch from the stand and it will be tough for me.

“They defend very well. Although we are likely to dominate the ball, we will have to be very careful not to concede because, when they score first, it is very difficult to break them down.

"I think the first goal will be very important.”