IAN Evatt says Wanderers will support “heartbroken” captain Ricardo Santos after his red card against Port Vale.

The defender was given two yellow cards by referee Ross Joyce, who had also sent off the same player in their previous meeting at Morecambe.

Bolton were incensed at the decision, with Evatt venting his feelings at the half-time interval and also being issued with a red card.

Asked how Santos had reacted in the dressing room to his dismissal, the Wanderers boss said: “I think he is really upset and he is heartbroken. He feels it was the Morecambe red card last season, same referee, red card again this season.

“He feels it’s personal so we’ve got to manage him, makes sure he understands it’s not that and he’s just been on the rough side of things today.

“We’ll support him, as we will them all, and get ready for Tuesday.”

Wanderers have vowed to Evatt says he will put his side of the story to the Football Association and PGMOL this week following his own red card, which meant he had to watch the second half from the directors’ box at Vale Park.

“I am not going to speak again about the officials because I am already in enough trouble,” he added. “So we will file a report, we will do everything we need to do. We know what has happened and we have got witnesses to what has happened, it’s as simple as that.

“We will file reports and see how we go.”

Evatt was delighted to keep a clean sheet, considering his side played for an hour in the heat with 10 men – due in no small measure to a fine save from James Trafford to deny Ellis Harrison from point blank range late in the game.

“Traff made one top save, I think,” said Evatt. “Other than that, nothing really to speak of. I thought they ran out of ideas, were devoid of ideas. I’m more disappointed because I think we would have gone on to win this game. I think with the changes we could have made with 11 on in the second half, the way we were attacking them, they posed very little threat and we’ve come away with a draw.

“I spoke about this in the week, every time I come here it is this type of game. It is just one of those things and every time we come here, we get embroiled in that type of game and it is that kind of drama. I just don’t like it.”