Gabriel Osho's red card during Cardiff City's 2–0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers has been criticised by head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who insisted the Super Eagles centre-back was harshly dismissed for a challenge he believes warranted only a yellow card.

Two minutes before the interval, Osho slid in swiftly on Ewan Henderson after the ball broke loose in midfield, but referee Carl Brook deemed the challenge worthy of a straight red card, reducing Cardiff City to ten men.

Despite being reduced to ten men, the Bluebirds continued to dominate proceedings for much of the contest.

However, their resistance eventually faded as late goals from André Vidigal and Cauley Woodrow secured victory for the visitors, condemning Cardiff to their eighth league defeat of the season.

Reflecting on the turning point, Barry-Murphy maintained that Osho's dismissal altered the course of the game but praised his side's resilience.

In quotes relayed by The BBC, he said: "I felt as if we were in good control of the game. The sending off naturally changes a lot of the game, but the players' efforts were incredible," said Barry-Murphy.

"I thought Gabriel tackled with one foot, his studs were close to the ground. It was a yellow card."

Osho, who joined Cardiff City from AJ Auxerre last August, has been in the international wilderness since earning his second cap in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel