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FOREST Green manager Jim Harvey insisted he had no idea why Stuart Fleetwood (pictured) was sent off in the controversial 1-0 Easter Monday defeat at Torquay United,.

Rovers' leading scorer saw red in the 27th minute for reacting to an apparent head-butt by Gulls defender Mark Ellis.

Referee Dave Phillips decided on the advice of his assistant David Martin to send Fleetwood off.

Harvey said : "I have no idea why Fleetwood was sent off. It's killed the game, and it's such a shame when both teams still have a chance of the play-offs and officials make decisions which just confuse everybody."

Torquay's winner came from the penalty spot, awarded three minutes after the sending off for a trip by defender John Hardiker on Steve Adams. Roscoe D'Sane struck beyond the diving Terry Burton.

D'Sane later missed a second spot-kick after the break when Hardiker was adjudged to have fouled Tim Sills.

Rovers almost snatched a deserved point at the death from a Darren Jones header.

Harvey added: "I thought we were head and shoulders above them (Torquay) today. I thought we were outstanding.

"It was really trying circumstances, not just the sending-off but both penalty decisions.

"With all the resources Torquay have got, for a team the size of our club to come and put a show on like that with ten men, makes me very proud of their effort."

Forest Green: Burton, Lawless, Brough (Pitman 66), Hardiker, Jones, Afful, Clist, Stonehouse, Welsh (Dodgson 71), Rigoglioso (Preece 67), Fleetwood.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Carey-Bertram.

Star man: Paul Stonehouse.

FOREST Green will aim to get their slim play-off chances back on track in the Setenta Sports televised clash with Nigel Clough's Burton Albion.

Defenders Chris Giles (hamstring) and Anthony Tonkin (hamstring) remain doubtful.

Do you agree with Jim Harvey's comments? Post your views below.

1:22pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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