KILMARNOCK boss Derek McInnes was left astounded that Ross County were left with 11-men on the park during the first-half of Saturday's game.
Ross Callachan put in a disgraceful challenge on Killie's Ryan Alebiosu as the right-back looked to break up the park.
The tackle was clearly late, off the ground and made with both feet in a scissor-like motion.
However, referee David Munro deemed it a bookable offence only - much to the anger of McInnes and the Killie players.
Callachan did see red much later in the match - which finished 1-0 County - for a second booking.
But McInnes says "god help us" if Callachan's initial offence is not viewed as a sending off by Scottish officials.
Booking 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/5Xy1MIRmaD
— Forever and Ever - The Killie Fans Podcast (@FEAE_KilliePod) August 20, 2022
He told Killie TV: "I think when he got the red card it was the right decision, but the red card should have been in the first half.
"The tackle on big Ryan was awful, I think the officials have to see it as I did right in front of me.
"We've all been there when you want your team to make a cute foul, but I felt that he had two feet off the ground and it was a lunge.
"For me if that isn't a red card then god help us."
On the game itself, McInnes felt his side were unlucky to be on the end of a defeat.
Owura Edwards scored late in the match to seal the points for the home side.
However, the ex-Aberdeen manager admits his players can't feel sorry for themselves.
He added: "We are disappointed, on the balance of the second half, the narrative should be about us not taking more of our opportunities.
"I thought in the second half we were the better team, out of possession I thought we negated their pace well.
"I think box to box we were the better team in the second half, time and time again we arrived at the edge of the box but we don't take shots, or we don't get the first touch and we don't show conviction in the shot.
"We have to show more of ourselves in these moments, games are won and lost in both boxes so we only have ourselves to blame.
"We are here to win points and we've not done that, we were hoping to get our first clean sheet but we've not seen it out and not dealt with a ball coming into the box.
"I feel like we deserved more, but I don't want to get caught up in that, I don't want to be little naïve Kilmarnock and get mugged off. But it feels like we were mugged off."
