Record night of early baths

There were more red cards than Wimbledon fans on view last night as the record for sendings-off in one day was broken.

There were 18 dismissals - three more than the number of Dons fans who travelled up to Grimsby for a 0-0 draw. It broke the record of 31 October 1998 when 15 players were sent off in one day of league action and the joint record of 20 November 1982 when 15 players (12 in the FA Cup) went for an early bath.

The red mist descended first last night at Mansfield when former Leeds star Scott Sellars was sent off at Wigan for violent conduct. A further 17 dismissals occurred - 10 in Scotland, and three of those from Morton. The pressure of playingin front of 1,982 fans in the Bell's Scottish League Cup second round proved too much for Morton 'stars' Dean Keenan, Alex Williams and Colin Riley in the 1-0 defeat by Queen of the South.

Inevitably, there will be appeals. Coventry manager Gary McAllister has claimed the first honorary Arsene Wenger "I didn't see the incident" award of the season. After Calum Davenport was dismissed for elbowing Brighton's Robbie Pethic, McAllister said: "The referee obviously saw an elbow but from where I was I didn't see one raised."

Perhaps Crystal Palace boss Trevor Francis, dismissed for slapping one of his own players for laughing at conceding a goal, could adjudicate.

Scott Sellars (Mansfield) . . . . 24mins, violent conduct
Aaron Black (Ayr) . . . . 37mins, violent conduct
Sam Collins (Port Vale) . . . . 37mins, second bookable offence
Calum Davenport (Coventry) . . . . 39mins, violent conduct
Iain Nicolson (Ayr) . . . . 65mins, second bookable offence
John Gemmill (Queens Park) . . . . 69mins, second bookable offence
Craig McEwan (Dumbarton) . . . . 81mins, second bookable offence
Dean Keenan (Morton) . . . . 70mins, serious foul play
Greg Strong (Hull) . . . . 78mins, violent conduct
Brian McGlinchey (Plymouth) . . . . 79mins, second bookable offence
David Livermore (Millwall) . . . . 82mins, second bookable offence
Aaron Brown (Bristol City) . . . . 85mins, serious foul play
Colin Riley (Morton) . . . . 90mins, foul & abusive language
Alan Quinn (Sheff Wed) . . . . 90mins, second bookable offence
Michael Brown (Forfar) . . . . 105mins, serious foul play
Alex Williams (Morton) . . . . 90mins, foul & abusive language
John Gallagher (Queens Park) . . . . 116mins, second bookable offence
Scott McCulloch (Forfar) . . . . 119mins, second bookable offence