The pundits had little sympathy for Sean McConville following his red card during Wanderers’ 2-0 win at Accrington in the Papa Johns Trophy semi-final.

McConville was given his marching orders following a high challenge on Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley.

Elias Kachunga and Aaron Morley were both on target during the final 10 minutes as the Whites secured a Wembley final.

Accrington boss John Coleman claimed it was a “harsh” decision after the game, but the pundits felt referee Sam Barrott made the right call.

Former Brentford midfielder Sam Saunders felt it was an “injury-threatening” challenge from the experienced wideman.

Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports Football, he said: “We are looking at the different angles and slow motion.

“On this angle, it looks like a red. It is potentially a little bit soft. He is high and he is late, it looks like a bad tackle.

“So I can understand why the referee has given it as dangerous play. When you are seeing Bradley’s knee going the wrong way, it was an injury-threatening one as well.”

Ex-Peterborough and Hull forward Aaron McLean also felt the tackle could have caused Bradley serious damage.

He added: “You can see why it is given. When players tackle that high, I have no sympathy whatsoever.

“I have been on the end of naughty tackles and spent months in the treatment room when players tackle that high.

“It is lucky for Bradley that it is only the side of his foot that catches his knee. But a few inches to the left and that is a leg-breaking tackle.

“I don’t have any sympathy for McConville. I think it is a red card and those kinds of tackles, tackling that high, it needs to be stamped out of the game.”

Ian Evatt’s men will now face League One rivals Plymouth in the final on Sunday, April 2 after the Pilgrims beat Cheltenham on penalties on Tuesday night.

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