Braintree Town boss says Ricky Gabriel must learn from his sending off

Manager Brad Quinton said the dismissal in the 27th minute was a turning point in the game and although his team held out until just after the hour mark, they conceded three times in the latter part of the game.

The Iron boss had no argument with Gabriel’s sending off as his defender reacted to a challenge on him, but he said it is something he must learn from.

“The sending off was a key moment and it was ill discipline from Ricky,” said Quinton.

“It turned the game in their favour and it cost us.

“We were up against it anyway with injuries and illness and we had Christian Frimpong already on a yellow card as the referee was throwing cards around with our players early on.

“So it was a lack of discipline from Ricky and the referee was right on this one – I can’t argue with his decision.

“It was stupid from Ricky and I’ve let him know that he let everyone down and the fans down as well.

“He has apologised and he regrets it, but we will lose him for three games now.

“We can’t be dragged into silly things like this.”

Quinton said he won’t accept it if his players continue to show a lack of discipline, though, and as he had done when moving midfielder Scott Shulton on after he had been sent off in an FA Cup tie, the Iron boss said he wouldn’t hesitate to act again if members of his squad didn’t learn from their mistakes.

“It is down to people to listen and to do it my way,” he said.

“We had it with Scott Shulton - he moved on and we progressed on to get where we are now.

“We’ve done it through hard work, but that’s doing things my way and I demand discipline on and off the pitch from my players.

“I think Ricky has been a tremendous player for us and he deserves a pat on the back for that, but he knows he has let us down this time.

“However, we have drawn a line under it and we move on now.”