Manager Jake Leberl is struggling to get his head around Roman Charles-Cook’s controversial sending-off in Dover’s FA Trophy defeat.

The Isthmian Premier Whites were knocked out in the first round, losing 2-0 against lower-division rivals Sittingbourne at Crabble last weekend.

Dover had to play the majority of the match with 10 men after right-back Charles-Cook was red-carded by referee Daniel D’Urso.

Leberl, who was also without injured No.1 keeper Mitch Walker, reflected: “I’ve got mixed emotions.

“The red card after 15 minutes, I still cannot get my head around it!

"But if you look at the West Ham versus Manchester United game on Sunday, not coming for the referee as such, they (the authorities) just seem desperate to make it non-contact.

“Even with 10 players, I thought we did really well on Saturday. They got down the side where Roman was for the first goal and there was a ricochet.

“That was frustrating but we played well so I have mixed emotions.”

Charles-Cook was dismissed for a challenge on winger Jay Beckford, with D’Urso’s performance leading to what Leberl claimed was his first booking of his managerial career.

He added: “I’m very lenient with officials.

“I don’t like to speak about them but I just don’t get what was in his head.

“There was no malice in the tackle. No one really appealed or thought it was a red card.

"Then, he didn’t want to see the red card back on video.

“I thought the players’ discipline was exemplary, really. Me and Mike (Sandmann, his No.2) lost our heads!

"I’ve never been booked in a managerial or coaching role before. I said that to the referee afterwards that I think that speaks volumes.

“But it’s the first time something like that has happened to us this season. We just need to get on with it.”

It was the second time this term Whites had lost to promotion-chasing Sittingbourne, who knocked them out of the FA Cup 1-0 in last month’s replay at Crabble after a 2-2 draw at Woodstock.

Leberl stated: “They’re a good side. They know how to get results.

“They’re strong and resilient. I felt they thoroughly deserved the FA Cup victory but I did think it would be a different story on Saturday if we didn’t have 10 men.

“The red card sort of killed it and, just before we were about to have a gamble for the last 10 minutes, they got their second. But fair play to them.”

Captain Walker was absent due to a recurring knee problem, with Whites facing a nervous wait to find out the extent of the injury after a scan on Monday.

Leberl said: “It could go either way.

“It’s on the same knee that he was out with for a long time before. It has flared up.

“It could just be a flare-up or something more severe.”

Walker was replaced by Claudio Boakye-Sarfo, formerly of Cray Wanderers and Horsham, as he made his Dover debut.

“He did all right,” said Leberl. “He trains really well with us. I wanted to give him an opportunity.”

Whites will need to make more defensive changes as they welcome Potters Bar in the league on Saturday.

They then travel to Folkestone in a hotly-awaited derby on Tuesday.

Without Charles-Cook, starting a three-game ban, Leberl said: “That’s the frustrating thing, for Roman to be suspended for three games for what, in our view, was a good sliding tackle.

“I’d get it if it was for violent conduct. But I just can’t get my head around it. The knock-on effect it can have is massive.

“Recruitment-wise, we will have to see where we are. But other lads will get an opportunity.

“We have been such a settled side so the next few games will be tough tests.”

Dover were shock 8-0 winners at Potters Bar on the opening day, but they now sit just outside the top five and have been beaten only twice in the league since then.

Leberl said: “Obviously, we got an unbelievable result against them in the first game of the season but their recovery has been unbelievable.

"Massive credit to them because that would have been a hard pill to take.

“They will be wanting to get some revenge so it will be an interesting game.”

Whites were 3-1 home winners against Cray Valley PM in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.

Defender Jeremiah Gyebi, forward Eniye Amgbaduba - with a penalty - and substitute George Nikaj were on target for Dover, who will be at home to Deal in the Kent Senior Cup quarter-final.

The cup clash also saw defender Jacob Mensah make his first appearance since he rejoined Dover this week.