Hughes left bemused by ref's contradictory reasons for red card

HIBS boss John Hughes has claimed referee Iain Brines gave him two different explanations after handing a controversial red card to Easter Road star Kevin McBride during the explosive SPL clash with champions Rangers.

McBride was sent off following a clash with Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, who was also given his marching orders for his part in the incident two minutes before half-time, Hughes revealing he'd been left "bemused" by the official's decision.

Hughes will sit down with assistant Brian Rice today to review the clash before deciding whether to lodge an appeal on McBride's behalf, the midfielder now facing an automatic one-match ban which would see him sitting out Sunday's game away to St Mirren. Central to that decision will be the part McBride played, the former Celtic, Motherwell and Falkirk player crashing the ball off the body of Lafferty after the Northern Ireland hitman had felled his Easter Road team-mate Liam Miller.

Lafferty then flew at McBride, his hands raised, provoking a melee as players from both sides raced to the spot. Today Hughes claimed neither player deserved the straight red they had been shown although, obviously, his over-riding concern is the situation McBride now finds himself in.

However, Hughes was left puzzled by Brines' take on what had happened, giving voice to his belief the referee had indulged in an "evening up" process. He said: "I asked the referee at half-time and he said it was for running in to him (Lafferty] and barging him. That was not the case. When I spoke to him after the game he said it was because he has kicked the ball at him.

"That's a little bit disappointing but it does not merit a red card."

Hughes also questioned how McBride could be singled out when "a dozen" players had got themselves caught up in the aftermath. He said: "I'm standing right next to the fourth official but unless I am watching a different game there were 12 players in there."

Meanwhile, Hughes was also checking today on the fitness of striker Derek Riordan and Michael Hart, both forced off with injuries.

He said: "It was a clash of knees for Derek so he should be okay but we're hoping Michael picked up a knock rather than a pull."