PLYMOUTH Argyle boss John Sheridan felt Cian Bolger should have been sent off before he was actually dismissed by referee Brendan Malone at Home Park on Saturday.

Bolger was shown a red card after just 15 minutes following two fouls on Pilgrims striker Marvin Morgan.

But Sheridan insisted the Irishman should have been given his marching orders for another foul on Morgan which happened just moments before Bolger was given his marching orders.

“I think he should have been sent off just before he actually was,” said Sheridan.

“He was booked for doing exactly the same thing just before he got the red card.”

But Sheridan was initially left disappointed by how his side struggled to contain the 10 men of Southend. “The only downside to the performance today was when they went down to 10 men and I felt they were the better team.

“It’s always difficult when you are playing against 10 men but I expected us to dominate the game more and have a little bit of know-how.

“In the second half, I thought we were very professional. I made a little change and put Jason in the hole around (Conor) Clifford and pushed the three up.

“I said to them at half-time ‘just keep playing two and three-touch and stretch the play.

“They were getting tired and we were moving the ball quickly and creating chances. “That made the difference and to win 2-0 is a really good result for us.”