Shamed Coventry City striker Michael Mifsud has apologised for his sending-off in Monday night's showdown with West Bromwich Albion at the Ricoh Arena which ended in a costly defeat for his side.
The Maltese player, Coventry's top scorer so far this season with 11 goals, was shown a straight red card by referee Phil Dowd after elbowing Albion defender Carl Hoefkens in the face as he challenged for a high ball.
The dismissal of the man dubbed "Mosquito" left the Sky Blues with just 10 men for almost 80 minutes and ultimately cost them in the second half when Iain Dowie's jaded men finally capitulated to two goals in two minutes and went down 4-0.
Mifsud said he was "devastated" that his dismissal would now mean an automatic three-match ban which will again hit Coventry hard as they have to play key Championship games without him.
He also said he wanted to assure the injured Albion right back Hoefkens that there had been no malicious intent in the incident.
Coventry were riding in fifth place in the league behind second-placed Albion but have now slipped to eighth and know every game is crucial if they are to try and secure promotion back to the Premier League this season.
Mifsud said: "I know that I have let myself down, let my team-mates down and let the fans down."
The 26-year-old added: "I am guilty of not keeping my eye on the ball when I went up for the challenge but I would never try and intentionally try and injure another player.
"I thought he was going to jump higher than he did [2014] but I never meant to elbow him."
Mifsud added: "I know that my sending-off had a big impact on the match and I am truly, truly sorry for what has happened.
"I am devastated that I will miss the next three games and I hope I can make amends when I can play again."
The striker's first game out will be his side's trip to Carrow Road to take on struggling Norwich City on Saturday November 24.
Iain Dowie's men will face Norwich for the first time under new manager Glenn Roeder who took over from Peter Grant last month and also come up against former player and fans' favourite Darren Huckerby.
The Coventry manager agreed with Mifsud's dismissal, saying: "I think it was the right decision. When you jump and lead with your arm as Michael did then there can only be one outcome."
But he refused to blame Mifsud for the Sky Blues' second-half capitulation.
"It is totally out of character for him and he is very remorseful and disappointed about it because he thinks he has cost us the game. But it hasn't. Bad defending has cost us."
