Raith Rovers winger Grant Anderson was shocked to receive a red card near the end of the 1-0 defeat to Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday.
Anderson, a qualified referee, picked up two bookings after coming on as a second-half substitute as Hibs ended the Fifers’ five-game unbeaten run.
Anderson was adamant that whistler George Salmond was wrong to show him a second yellow card in the 89th minute after a high-speed collision with Hibs defender Paul Hanlon.
“I’ve got eyes for the ball, chased it down, and tried to get a nick on it,” he said. “Hanlon has done well and cleared it, and his momentum has saw him plough into me.
“I actually thought when the whistle went that it was maybe a free-kick to myself,” he added.
“I’m gutted because I’ll miss a game through it and I’ve just came back from injury. I just feel hard done by. There was no malice intended whatsoever.
“It’s not the Hibs boy’s fault, they’ve not conned the ref,” he said.
“Paul Hanlon just walked past me shaking his head.”
Anderson will be available for Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at home to Hibs as he serves his suspension against Alloa in the rearranged league match on January 12.
“We are struggling just now with injury and illness,” he added.
“I tried to come back against Queen’s and crumbled so the fact I managed to get through 20 minutes was a positive, and I would’ve been happy at the end of the game.”
Iain Davidson and Mark Stewart called off sick to leave manager Ray McKinnon without eight first-team players, so midfielder Scott Robertson played as an emergency right back.
Despite this, the visitors made a bright start and came close to taking the lead when a brilliant turn and cut-back from James Craigen was met by Jon Daly, whose effort was blocked near the line before Hibs cleared the danger.
Hibs appeared flat after losing their 17-game unbeaten run at Ibrox last Monday.
However, they almost grabbed an opener on 16 minutes when Lewis Stevenson’s overhit cross clipped the crossbar.
Jason Cummings came alive in the 35th minute as he darted inside from the right past two Raith players before firing just over the bar.
The deadlock was broken three minutes after the restart. Cummings raced away from the Raith defence and was clipped in the box by Kyle Benedictus as he tried to turn on to his left foot a clear penalty.
Cuthbert made an excellent stop from Cummings’ spot kick. He also got a hand to the striker’s rebound attempt, but the ball trickled over the line.
An improved Hibs dominated the second half and came close to extending their lead when Cummings tried an audacious lob from out wide and the ball landed just wide of the far post.
Cuthbert made a great save on the hour, rushing out to block from McGeough after a mix-up in the Raith defence, while Liam Fontaine was inches away with a bullet header.
Raith were hanging on in the hope they’d get a chance but, despite some late pressure, the visitors were unable to seriously threaten the Hibs goal.
Anderson’s red card left manager McKinnon frustrated.
“It doesn’t affect the game, but I’m really disappointed in the decision,” he said.
“We had eight first team players out and my boys really rose to the occasion.
“They battled hard and I’m getting everything out of them I can’t ask for any more.”