It was Kevin Phillips' first sending off in more than six years.

Since then, he has become a Sunderland legend, won his eight England caps - and provided a good case for a ninth.

That was until he kicked out at Franck Quedrue at St Mary's on Saturday.

Of course, Phillips was provoked.

Television replays showed that left-back Quedrue had stamped on his ankle, but the striker could not be excused for lashing out.

Now a Premiership veteran, 30-year-old Phillips was never sent off during his six seasons with Sunderland, for whom he played 234 league and cup games.

Indeed, you have to go back to his Watford days for his last red card.

For the record, that was for a second booking in a 3-1 defeat at Wrexham in April 1997, when he was still just 23 and relishing his second crack at the pro game after being spotted playing for Baldock Town.

He could not use youth as an excuse on Saturday, when, as one of the more experienced players in the Saints side, he should have kept the red mist at bay, instead of reacting like he did in injury time and in full view of one of the linesmen.

But you could not help but feel some sympathy for Phillips, whose strike partnership with James Beattie had not had anything like the service he might have expected.

The press were ready to build up the 'Little 'n' Large' combo of Beattie and Phillips, as they had marvelled at 'SuperKev's' partnership with Niall Quinn in the North East, following the 3-1 demolition of Tottenham a week earlier.

But it never got going on Saturday and the frustration of coming up against Middlesbrough's brick wall of a defence would have been a huge source of frustration for Phillips, a southerner who became an adopted Mackem during his time at Sunderland.

Phillips' week had begun well. He netted his first St Mary's goal on his European debut a few days after pressuring Dean Richards into an own goal at Tottenham, and had also won the goal of the month award for August for his debut strike at Leicester.

So he would have expected to have added to his Saints tally on Saturday. Instead his eighth appearance ended with a long walk back to the home dug out.

Phillips had to traipse across the full width of the St Mary's pitch in injury time, and having to stroll past Gordon Strachan, who showed no sympathy, would have the trek seem even longer.

Strachan said he would wait until today's training session before discussing the sending off with Phillips, who he described as "a quiet lad" in the post match press conference.

But he is unlikely to be too severe with his £3.25 m striker, whose display of petulance was reminiscent of David Beckham's St Etienne red card against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. It was also out of character for the man who used to clean Alan Shearer's boots while an apprentice at the Dell.

Okay, Phillips is no Gary Lineker but during his days at Sunderland his 132 goals dwarfed his tally of 31 yellow cards. Now his new teammates will have to do without his services in attack for three games, the mandatory ban for violent conduct.