'Hopefully he will learn': Blackpool boss Michael Appleton issues warning to Dom Thompson after costly red card

The left-back received a completely needless red card for a moment of stupidity on Saturday during the incident-packed 3-3 draw with Sheffield United.

With the Seasiders already down to 10 men following Marvin Ekpiteta’s red just three minutes earlier, Thompson then compounded matters by being shown a second yellow himself for kicking the ball at Anel Ahmedhodžić.

Appleton’s side were leading 3-2 at the time, but their hearts were broken in the last seconds of stoppage time when Oliver Norwood fired home an equaliser from the edge of the box.

When asked if it was just a moment of stupidity from Thompson, Appleton told The Gazette: “Absolutely.

“It’s my job to protect the players as much as I possibly can but he just had a moment of madness really.

“Hopefully he will learn from that because things like that can be really crucial.

“He’s still young, he’s still learning, as we all are, but from his point of view he will be really disappointed, I get that.

“He’s now got to find a way to turn that into a positive, whether it’s keeping his head down, training really hard until that moment he’s ready to play again and put in the performances to back up the type of performances he’s already had this season.”

Thompson had earlier been at fault for the home side’s opening goal, giving the ball away in a poor area of the pitch before James McAtee bundled home.

It’s not the first time the 22-year-old has been made to pay for a rush of blood to the head this season either, having also produced a costly mistake during the recent defeat to Norwich City.

In Thompson’s absence through suspension,Luke Garbutt is likely to get the nod against Hull City on Wednesday, although James Husband is also close to a return from a calf injury.

“Garbs is available, so that is an option,” Appleton added.

“We’re running out of options elsewhere so I’m glad I’ve got one or two in that position.

“We will go into the game knowing there are a lot of things we have to do and be positive and stay positive about and hopefully that will be the case.”