Crawley boss John Gregory accused referee Trevor Kettle of showing a lack of common sense after putting Gary Alexander on the verge of a one-game ban.

Kettle booked Gary Alexander following his emotional goal celebration which put Reds on course for victory against his former club Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Alexander put his shirt over his head when he made it 1-1 in the first half to reveal a message in tribute to his former landlady at Exeter City who passed away last week.

It was the striker’s fourth yellow card of the season meaning he will pick up an automatic one-game suspension if he is cautioned in either of the next two matches, at home to MK Dons on Boxing Day and Notts County on Sunday.

Kyle McFadzean will also walk a disciplinary tightrope in the next two matches after being one of five Crawley players booked during the 3-2 win at Brisbane Road.

Any player receiving five bookings before December 31 serves a one-game ban, with cautions wiped out in the New Year.

Gregory said: “Gary kept his shirt over his head for 3.7 seconds and you are only allowed to do it for 3.6 seconds!

“Gary had lost somebody very dear to him but this is an example of when referees go by the rule book rather than common sense. He (Kettle) obviously had his assessor watching him up in the stand and felt he had to impress him.”

Gregory will be keeping his fingers crossed that Alexander stays out of trouble in the next two games with his options up front already limited due to an injury to Emile Sinclair which ruled him out of the 3-2 win at Leyton Orient on Saturday.