Truro City red card 'showed no common sense' - Askey

Shaun Donnellan was visibly stunned after being sent off

Truro City manager John Askey says a controversial decision to send off Shaun Donnellan in his side's 4-0 loss at Solihull Moors was "not in the spirit of the game".

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 midfielder was given a second yellow card by referee Melissa Burgin for coming back on to the field after an injury without permission.

But Askey says Donnellan was given permission to return to the field by both the fourth official and the assistant referee during the incident, which happened nine minutes after half-time.

"I've not seen somebody get sent off for that before," said Askey, whose career as a player and manager spans more than 45 years.

"It's just a strange, strange decision and no common sense was applied I didn't think."

He added: "The red card just killed us really. I think everybody was just flabbergasted at what had happened."

John Askey was booked for his reaction to Donnellan's sending off

The defeat left Truro second-from-bottom of the National League, a point off safety after 17 games of the season.

"The fourth official said when it reaches a certain time, then he could go back on, so Shaun took that as he could go on the pitch.

"The fourth official was stood with him, but surely she should stop the game, tell him to get back on.

"Rather than trying to keep players on the park it looks as though officials are more intent on trying to get people off.

"It just kills a game, but I don't think that's within the spirit of the game, doing things like that, referees booking people and sending them off, I just don't don't think it's in the spirit of what football should be about."