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Preston defender Sean St Ledger has backed Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo after he was sent off for allegedly aiming a head-butt at him.

Iwelumo, who scored a hat-trick as Wolves won 3-1, was shown a straight red card, but the Preston defender has told referee Martin Atkinson that there was no contact.

"It was a strange afternoon for Chris," Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said. "He played exceptionally well, scored a hat-trick and got the match ball, and then got sent off!

"St Ledger has been in to see the referee to say that nothing happened and you can't get a better witness than that. All credit to him, he's been up against a player who's given him a real battle and has scored a hat-trick and yet he's still gone in to see the referee.

"It was nothing, not a clash of heads, anything, and bearing in mind the witness is the other player involved I would hope the sensible thing will be done and it will get rescinded."

Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey also took an early bath after he fouled Neil Mellor late in the clash.

"I've spoken to the assessor and the letter of the law is that if you deny someone a goal-scoring opportunity you are sent off," McCarthy added.

McCarthy was also sent from the dugout after mock-clapping Atkinson.

Reda Maher / Eurosport