St Johnstone attacker Francisco Sandaza has said sorry to his fellow players after his red card in Saturday’s Tayside derby defeat to Dundee United.

The Spaniard was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Terrors defender Sean Dillon in the second half of the game at McDiarmid Park.

Referee Euan Norris had booked the former United man for a foul on the same player minutes earlier and Sandaza admits he was wrong to react.

Team-mates Jamie Adams and Dave Mackay earned a shove in the chest for their troubles as they tried to calm the 27-year-old down.

Sandaza told a number of newspapers: “It is the first time I’ve been sent off in my whole career.

“I phoned Jamie Adams to apologise for pushing him. I should not have done that.”

The player, who has scored 17 goals for Saints this season, hit out at his punishment claiming he has been harshly treated.

He added: “I am now out of three huge games and I think that is a joke. The club is trying to get into Europe and now I won’t be part of it.”

“[Sean Dillon] connected with me when he was on the floor and it was just instinct to throw my leg out. It wasn’t violent.”