Problems mounted for Workington Reds after their 3-2 defeat at Stafford Rangers.

For the two players who were sent-off during the game will miss Saturday’s trip to Grantham.

It used to be ten days before suspensions came into operation but that has changed this season to a week.

Full-back Jake Simpson saw red after 24 minutes for a pull on the home winger who was through on goal. To compound the agony, the referee awarded a penalty after the offence had clearly occurred outside the box.

Then, in the 71st minute, Conor Tinnion was on his way to the dressing room, reacting angrily when a decision went against him as he lashed the ball in the general direction of the referee’s assistant.

Indications are that Simpson will receive a one-match ban while Tinnion might have to serve up to three games.

Joint boss Dave Hewson said: “There were a lot of decisions in the game which were queried by both teams and I don’t want to say more than that.

“But it was so disappointing to lose after we had fought back to level terms with ten men after going 2-0 down.

“To get level showed the spirit there is in the team and we were buzzing again.

“But we spent most of the interval talking about what we hadn’t got to do.

"What happens, they score in the first minute of the second half because we didn’t do what we’d been talking about.

“That was the frustrating thing about the game as it turned out.

“Sam did have one good chance late on. He struck it well but was just off target, or we could have salvaged point.”

Reds haven’t got a big squad and, to add to the two suspensions at the weekend, will still be missing Anthony Wright.

He turned his ankle in the midweek Cumberland Cup win over Cleator Moor Celtic and on Saturday the swelling still hadn’t gone down.

Fellow midfielder James Earl took a knock on the foot towards the end of the game at Stafford and he was limping onto the bus for the journey home.