Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has admitted that captain Lee Cattermole deserved his red card in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.
The midfielder was dismissed after the final whistle of an ill-tempered local derby for remonstrating with referee Mike Dean.
However, O'Neill claimed that Magpies midfielder Cheick Tiote should have also been given his marching orders during the match at the Sports Direct Arena.
"I have gone in to see the referee and you can't be abusing the referee and therefore it has to be merited," O'Neill told BBC Sport.
"There were plenty of mitigating circumstances though. Tiote is a fine player but he was very lucky still to be on the field."
Stephane Sessegnon was also sent off for the Black Cats when he struck Tiote.
