Sky Bet Championship: Rotherham boss Steve Evans hits out at official following Jordan Bowery red card

Rotherham boss Steve Evans has branded assistant referee Keith Lawson "pathetic at his job" after his involvement in Jordan Bowery's red card on Saturday.

The Millers striker was dismissed just four minutes after coming on as a first-half substitute in the 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough when Lawson advised referee Mick Russell that he had kicked out at George Friend.

Video footage appeared to exonerate Bowery of any guilt, with the Millers lodging an appeal with the Football Association and Russell consequently apologising to Evans for the decision, which was described by the Scot as "absolutely shocking, awful, woeful, disgraceful, abject".

Evans attaches no blame to the referee, but lays into Lawson's ability to do the job.

"The sending off, I have used all the words I could do with that," he said. "The head of referees at the Football Association David Allison called me yesterday (Sunday) and said him and the match referee send me their apologies for the decision.

"I excluded the referee from any blame because he went on instruction from the assistant referee. Jordan Bowery never kicked out, television evidence has shown that and we hope that due process kicks in.

"The decision comes from a man who is known to us, not because we question his integrity but because he is rubbish.

"He is pathetic at his job and shouldn't officiate at this level of football again. That's my opinion, I'm not questioning his honesty but he should not officiate at this level, that decision endorses that."

The Millers immediately appealed the dismissal and must now wait for the outcome before knowing whether Bowery will be available for Tuesday's clash at Reading.

"We will know on Tuesday, the appeal was lodged on Saturday evening and we have to let that due process take its course," Evans added.

"But David Allison also told me that they are not now responsible for a three-man independent commission who sit and make a judgement on whether Jordan's red card should be rescinded.

"It would be hard if they send their apologies and it's not rescinded, but the referee has no further say.

"We're a small club in a big league and we look at some of these decisions, we go away shaking our head."

If Bowery's dismissal does stand he will serve a three-match ban and leave the Millers light in attack, with Alex Revell a doubt for the Madejski Stadium clash.

Revell was forced off on Saturday after being kicked in the head, leading to Bowery's introduction, and he looks set to miss out.

"We think he will miss Reading, it's his jaw," Evans said. "He got kicked right under the chin, we will give him every opportunity but the chances are he will miss out."