CARDIFF manager Mick McCarthy thinks Jefferson Lerma should have received marching orders and revealed: “I’ve seen it back, and it’s a red card in my opinion.”

The Colombian midfielder put in a combative performance to sink the Welsh side but could have received further punishment after a poor challenge on Ciaran Brown.

He was cautioned for the heavy tackle while the game was goalless, but it wasn’t the only time tempers flared in the capital as both sides clashed from the goalmouth to the middle of the park.

"I'm not suggesting for one minute he meant it, he was trying to win the ball and he was excellent," said McCarthy, who admitted seeing the challenge slowed down makes it a lot easier.

"But I've seen it back, and it's a red card in my mind."

"If you go in like that out of control and catch a player on his shins it's a red card.

"The referee made his decision on what he saw, we all get things right, we all get things wrong. I thought it was a bad tackle at the time.

"But it's a naughty old tackle."

The former Republic of Ireland manager did praise Scott Parker’s side, adding: "We won't play against teams of that standard every week.

“They're almost the perfect Championship team. They can deal with the rough and tumble of the league, they're athletic and have pace in the team.

"They're one of the teams that will finish in the top two, it was always going to be a tough ask for us, but for 55 minutes I was delighted."