COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd will appeal against Kevin Lisbie’s red card following last night’s heated match at Charlton.

The U’s play-off hopes have been left hanging by a thread following their 1-0 defeat at The Valley – Colchester are now three points adrift of the top six with just four games to play.

It was a nightmare evening for the Essex side who saw Ipswich loanee Lisbie dismissed late on for an alleged head-butt on home skipper Nicky Bailey and John-Joe O’Toole go off with a suspected leg fracture.

Boothroyd also went head-to-head with opposite number Phil Parkinson at the end after the former U’s boss appealed heavily for John White to also see red.

“I’ve seen it again on the computer and I don’t think he deserved it. It was just two players coming together,” said Boothroyd, after Lisbie’s dismissal against the club where he spent 12 long years.

Last night was the first time Parkinson has masterminded victory over Colchester since his controversial departure from Layer Road in 2006.

Reacting to his touchline altercation, Boothroyd said: “It was just two managers desparately wanting to win. It was daft really, I don’t have a problem with Phil and we’ll go for a drink now.”