'Bad decision' - Former Liverpool defender sympathises with Martin

Martin is set to sit in the stands for the Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Stoke City after picking up his third yellow card of the season at Man City.

Martin was cautioned by referee Tony Harrington for an incensed reaction to an erroneous booking Flynn Downes received, having made a clean challenge.

He was unable to hide his disappointment at the decision post-match when he labelled his booking as "nonsense" in the press conference.

Warnock, who made 212 appearances in the Premier League, agrees with Martin and defended his right to show that frustration in the media.

"You're asked straight after a game when emotions are still high and you've just lost a game," said the Sky Sports pundit.

"We're sitting down now on a Monday morning to talk about it and have had two days to digest everything, calm yourself down and relax about the decision.

"We can watch it three or four times whereas he's probably bounced out of interview, interview, interview, interview and into the press conference.

"He's not been able to look at the incident, not being able to go, do you know what, it was just one incident within a game, it's frustrating but it's happened - it's a poor decision.

"It is a bad decision. My big thing on that decision is, what's the assistant referee doing, or the fourth official, to say it's not a yellow card, he's won the ball, just be careful?

"I know you've got the reaction of Flynn Downes but it's because he feels he's won the ball.
It's just emotion after the game that's running. 

"You're in that moment and you've got to be careful what you do and how much you go overboard but it is a fine balance, isn't it?"

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher added: "There are different ways of saying things. It's just an unfortunate incident, isn't it?

"As you say, it wasn't a foul. And it got ramped up. It got ramped up as it went on. It was just a mistake, wasn't it? That's all."