Cape Town - SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund has defended Dean Furman after the midfielder was dismissed in the 4-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs.
Furman was received a second yellow card in the 79th minute with the score at 2-1 at that turning point of the match.
Two goals from George Lebese and a goal apiece from Ivan Bukenya and Siphiwe Tshabalala sealed the deal for the defending league champions.
"I think the sending off was very soft to be honest. I asked Dean and he told me exactly what he said; that it wasn’t a free-kick," Igesund told KickOff.
"Then the referee booked him for the second time and sent him off. These kind of decisions change games.
"Dean is still finding his feet a little bit; obviously he is playing in this league for the first time.
"The pace of the game is a bit quicker and he has got to get used to that. But we all know he is an honest player, he is trying and he works very hard. I know he will get much better with time and as he gets used to the team."
SuperSport are now four points off log leaders Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits and trail Chiefs by three points after four games of league action.