Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish was still in the dark over captain Paul Lorraine’s red card after watching the DVD of Fleet’s FA Trophy exit.

Defender Lorraine (pictured) was dismissed five minutes into the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat following an off-the-ball incident with Hereford’s Kyle Perry.

There’s history between the pair – Lorraine was sent off following a clash with Perry when the latter was at Lincoln last season – and Daish said he would study video evidence to find out who was responsible for the latest incident.

He’s watched it back this week but is none the wiser.

Daish said: "I’ve had a look but the video doesn’t show anything because the camera was following the ball.

"I will speak to Paul but whatever’s said will be kept between me and him. It certainly won’t be appearing all over forums.

"Everyone seems to have an idea what happened but I’m not going to chastise anyone without knowing the facts.

"I’m not blaming Perry, I’m not blaming Paul, I’m not blaming the referee and I’m not blaming the linesman.

"I’m entitled to protect the club and the player, which is why I won’t be divulging our conversation."

Lorraine starts a three-game suspension when Fleet host Blue Square Bet Premier leaders Grimsby on Saturday. It’s the first of two home games in four days, with Daish’s old club Cambridge United the visitors on Tuesday.

Fleet expect to welcome back 15-goal top scorer Nathan Elder from injury.