Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic labelled the decision to send off defender Gabriele Angella just seconds into their 2-0 loss at Bournemouth as 'a joke'.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe clashes with Slavisa Jokanovic of Watford
The centre-back's first action of the match was to foul Callum Wilson with just 26 seconds on the clock but Lee Probert's decision to show him a straight red card infuriated the Watford management, players and fans.
They believed fellow defender Craig Cathcart was goalside, meaning Angella was not the last man. And Jokanovic, who admitted they are likely to appeal the sending off, tried to hold his tongue for fear of being disciplined by the authorities.
"In England for it to happen after 25 seconds like this, it is a joke," he fumed.
"I better not make any opinion. I prefer not to make any commentary about this situation. It is simple - it is wrong and strange.
"We had practised with 10 players but never for 94 minutes, this is something different.
"Our supporters always support us and I am disappointed because all we could offer them is fighting. It is not enough and we are going to be better and make the next game better for them."
Jokanovic's men were always up against it after Angella's controversial red and they held out until Cathcart's blatant foul on Wilson allowed Yann Kermorgant to open the scoring in the 35th minute from the penalty spot.
The Hornets struggled to create many clear cut chances before Matt Ritchie's fine angled drive put the game beyond doubt but Jokanovic explained how he resisted temptation to surrender a forward after the red.
"We decided to stay with two strikers from the beginning of the game after this situation because we have to use our best players," he explained. "I believed it was the best way to try to get a result.
"I must be proud, we played against a top Championship team who play very good football. We fight and try together. After the penalty we decided to stay with two strikers and try to find some goals.
"We started to get more tired and found a more complicated situation for us."
For Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, the comfortable victory gives his side a three-point cushion at the top ahead of Saturday afternoon's fixtures.
And he admitted it was a welcome three points after back-to-back league defeats and an FA Cup exit at Villa Park on Sunday.
"The important thing for us was to get back to winning ways and get the feel-good factor back for the players and fans," he explained.
"We haven't beaten the big teams around us regularly enough for my liking. If we can produce the performance we did in the second half then I think we will be in good shape.
"We are in a fortunate position and enjoying where we are."
The Cherries have seen a number of bids for Birmingham's Demarai Gray rejected in recent weeks and while Howe refused to comment on the Blues winger in particular he hopes Monday's transfer deadline day will be a successful one.
"I hope it will be busy," he added. "I have made no secret of the fact that we want to recruit a player. So I hope it will be busy, whether it is or not remains to be seen.
"That is the beauty of this transfer market and transfer deadline day, it is an exciting day for everybody. We would love to be able to bring a player in."