HARRY Redknapp knows that David Prutton genuinely is distraught at his sending-off - and is backing the 23-year-old to learn from his mistake.

"After the game his parents were there and I've never seen anyone so low in all my life," said Redknapp.

"I've had a chat with him. He's a nice lad and he knows he's made a big mistake.

"But show me a man who hasn't made a mistake and I'll show you a liar.

"We all make mistakes. It's just how he learns from it and I'm sure he will.

"Obviously his reaction was wrong and totally out of order but he is a good lad. David Prutton is a smashing fella.

"He knows he made a big mistake.

"It's done, he'll take his punishment and hopefully we can move on from there."

Redknapp confirmed Saints will take their own disciplinary action against the midfielder, which will probably be the maximum fine of two weeks' wages.

Prutton faced the press yesterday and apologised for the two tackles which led to his sending-off.

He also said he was sorry for his behaviour towards linesman Paul Norman and referee Alan Wiley, who he pushed as he tried to remonstrate with Norman.

Redknapp said he would appear with Prutton, who has also been booked eight times this season - more than any other Saint - and speak up for him at the FA disciplinary hearing that is being held tomorrow.

There have been comparisons with Paolo Di Canio's infamous shove on referee Paul Alcock in October 1998 which led to an eight-game ban on top of the three the Italian received for the initial sending-off.

The Prutton incident, though, was less serious and manager Redknapp said it was unfair to say they were similar.

He said: "It's not the same as Paolo. He pushed a referee and Mr Alcock fell over.

"I've said the two tackles were bad tackles, but when you look at it he was trying to get to the linesman to argue with him.

"He didn't walk up and push the referee over - he was trying to get him out of the way. It wasn't anything like Di Canio's.

"It was the bookings that upset me. Why make a challenge like he did when you have been booked?

"That's why I was annoyed, as there was no thought. But we'll just have to wait and see.

"I'll go up with him Friday or whenever it is for sure."

Redknapp believes the Prutton incident was borne from being overly hyped for the match.

He added: "He gets stuck in and he does pick up bookings with rash challenges, but I just think he gets too hyped up in games - that's what happened to him on Saturday.

"He got over-hyped - he wanted to win so badly it boiled over and that was the problem.

"We've seen players lose their heads before and he knows he was in the wrong.

"He's taken a lot of stick about it and quite rightly so, but hopefully we can move on."

FA decision tomorrow

DAVID PRUTTON will discover his fate tomorrow after being officially charged with two counts of improper conduct by the FA following his sending-off against Arsenal.

There is speculation that the midfielder could be banned for the rest of the season after pushing referee Alan Wiley in a bid to confront linesman Paul Norman following his second yellow card for a tackle on Robert Pires in the 1-1 draw at St Mary's.

Prutton is serving his automatic one game ban for the sending off during tonight's FA Cup fifth round replay clash at Brentford, but the FA will make a decision tomorrow on what further punishment, if any, they will take for his actions following the red card.

The FA have reported the first charge relates to Prutton's failure to leave the field of play promptly following his dismissal and his attempt to remonstrate with the assistant referee, during which he pushed the referee on at least one occasion.

The second charge relates to his threatening words and/or behaviour towards a match official.

He has until 6pm today to respond. The case will be heard by a disciplinary commission tomorrow.