Gillingham boss Steve Evans made clear what he thought of Stuart O’Keefe’s first yellow card on Saturday - with his player in the firing line.

There may have been debate about O’Keefe's second booking that led to his dismissal but a caution moments earlier for throwing the ball away didn’t go down well with the boss.

Evans said: “He puts himself on a knife edge - it was a silly yellow card.

“The referee was having little nibbles at Stuart early doors and he played into his hands by throwing the ball away for the first yellow. He will be dealt with.

“I said to him at half time and at the end of the game, that is poor discipline from a senior player.”

O’Keefe picked up a second yellow card for a foul that led to a penalty for MK Dons.

“It is not a yellow,” said Evans. “If that happens anywhere else on the pitch is it a yellow?”

O’Keefe will now miss Tuesday’s match against Charlton Athletic through suspension.

The Gills boss was frustrated by his player but also the inconsistency of the referee John Busby.

He said: “It is quite interesting that Stuart gets a yellow for throwing the ball away and then they have a boy on a yellow who kicks the ball away and no action is taken. That is the inconsistency that for me make him a poor referee.”