AshantiGold coach Bashir Hayford says the sending off of his star player Osei Baffour was a significant contribution to his side’s 2-0 defeat to Asante Kotoko on Wednesday.
The Miners lost 2-0 to their regional rivals to end their campaign in the MTN FA Cup at the quarter final stage.
Goals from Jackson Owusu and Atta Kusi handed the win to the struggling Premier League champions in Kumasi.
It was however the sending off of Osei Baffour that appears to have turned the game on its head.
AshGold coach Bashir Hayford says the red card incident to his playmaker was the main reason behind the defeat.
"My boys were frustrated and what caused that frustration, our playmaker was removed," he said.
"If I were the referee I will caution him because they say that the referee must use his discretion.
"Even if he used foul language the referee could have found a way to caution him rather than send him off."