Ferguson backs Kane after red card in Portadown defeat

Ballymena United defender Tony Kane walks off the pitch following his red card in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Portadown. Picture: David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press.

Kane was controversially booked by referee Raymond Hetherington for attempting to take a free kick before the referee had blown his whistle and then within two minutes he was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Michael Gault.

“We have players who are trying to use their initiative and get the game flowing, trying to make things happen and show that they’re good players who think smart,” fumed Ferguson.

“Tony is adamant that the player didn’t say anything about the whistle and I have to believe that.

“There were a lot worse things went on in the game and there were no bookings for it - the consistency isn’t there.

“The second one was a yellow card but it wasn’t malicious - Tony has turned to play the ball and has caught the guy.

“I thought our boys showed tremendous character with 10 men to get back to two each but it was a great goal to win it

“Again, we suffered from defensive frailties at the start - the first goal was a free header and for the second goal, Gareth Rodger held his hand up that he should have cleared it but he’ll learn from it and he didn’t put a foot wrong in the second half.

“I just asked the lads to try to stay in the game and we would maybe get something out of it and we might well have done at 11 v 11,” added Ferguson.