SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock has criticised midfielder Anthony Grant following his red card at Oxford United on Tuesday night.

Grant will now serve a three match suspension after being dismissed for violent conduct during the 1-0 win at the Kassam Stadium in the area quarter finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

And Sturrock was furious to see the former Chelsea trainee lose his cool.

“Grant’s stupidity made a mockery of the whole game and you just can’t go and put your hands in someone’s face,” said Sturrock.

“He will be sternly punished for what he did and his actions could’ve cost us dear.

“Their player was sent off as well but neither of them were involved in the challenge which sparked the incident and I really don’t understand the mentality of why they’re getting involved.”

Grant saw red for the first time in his Blues career after raising both of his hands in to the face of U’s skipper Jake Wright.

Oxford substitute Tom Craddock responded by pushing Grant to the floor and was also sent off.

The fracas was started by a mistimed Simon Heslop challenge on Kane Ferdinand.

And that came after the home-side’s goalkeeper Wayne Brown had also been dismissed early on for handling the ball outside of his penalty area.

“The goalkeeper was unlucky but by the letter of the law he had to go,” said Sturrock.

“The red cards ruined the game though and we seemed to drop two or three gears after we scored.

“We thought having an extra man would be enough to take us through and we made it hard for ourselves which really disappointed me.”

The win pushed Blues through to the semi-finals of the JPT along with Brentford, Barnet and Swindon Town.

The draw will take place on Saturday morning, live on Sky Sports’ Soccer AM show.