HARTLEPOOL United must cope without the in-form Thomas Butler for two games, after the winger was red carded on Saturday.

Butler was dismissed after being booked twice during the defeat at Gillingham.

He will miss Saturday's game at Bradford for the dismissal and will also have to sit out an additional match - the FA Cup tie at home to Tamworth - because he has already served a suspension this season for accumulating five yellow cards.

And, more worringly, he is now on nine yellow cards for the season and just one more caution away from an additional two-game suspension.

Butler has been Pool's most creative performer this season and has become a marked man.

As a result, boss Martin Scott is hoping for some protection from officials for the former Republic of Ireland international.

"His sending-off was silly,'' he said. "He missed a great chance to equalise late on and was frustrated.

"But he was black and blue in the dressing room, he'd been kicked all afternoon, and he had the crowd on his back because he retaliated when he was brought down and got booked for it.

"He was carrying a knock and their lad got away from him so he tripped him up.

"He knows he's done wrong. He is now suspended and we will miss him.

"Last week Brentford did a job on him and we've seen it happen again.

"Two or three players were banking up on him because they know he can cause problems.

"We've seen what he can do this season because he's been our star player in possession. From my point of view I think he needs more protection at times and I don't think he gets it.

"He wants to do well, but got frustrated with the fouls on him and that led to him being sent off.''

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