Parkinson reacts to Dobson's red card and discusses potential appeal

Phil Parkinson has not yet decided whether he will appeal the red card shown to George Dobson in stoppage time of Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers.

Dobson was shown red for a lunge on Jayden Mitchell-Lawson as tried to win the ball back and launch a counter-attack.

Parkinson said the 22-year-old had won the ball, but conceded the ‘manner’ of the challenge can often result in a red.

Should Sunderland opt against the red card appeal, then it will likely hand a major opportunity to Josh Scowen.

Scowen had come close to winning selection after scoring and producing three assists in the 8-1 demolition of Aston Villa U21s on Tuesday night, but Park ins onul timately opted to persist with the shape and personnel that had impressed against Hull City in the Carabao Cup last Saturday.

“He won the ball,” Parkinson said.

"I thought at the time it was going to be a yellow, but the kind of manner of the challenge, sometimes they get interpreted as a red.

"It’ s frustrating for George, but it will give someone else an opportunity.

“We' ve got Josh and Grant, who both played well the other night and will be available for selection next week.

“In terms of the appeal, I'll have a look at it again.

“He's clearly won the ball, I had a great view of it.

“We'll look at it again and make a decision.”

Parkinson also conceded that Sunderland had been handed a reprieve early in the second half when Bailey Wright brought down Bristol Rovers striker Brandon Hanlan.

Wright had been booked in the first half for a similar foul, and referee Anthony Backhouse reached for his pocket to show him a second.

He ultimately opted against it.

Parkinson took Wright off twenty minutes later, switching to a 4-4-2 system that was ultimately able to rescue a point from the game.

“I think normally in those situations, referees will give someone who is on a yellow card an opportunity because it was an innocuous type of challenge,” Cats boss Parkinson said.

"But on another day, he could have easily got a red card.”