Swansea manager Russell Martin felt referee Jarred Gillett's decision to send off Ryan Manning shortly before half-time in his side's defeat to Fulham was a decisive factor in the match.
The game was scoreless when Ireland international Manning caught Fulham's Harry Wilson with a tackle after 42 minutes. Gillett swiftly produced a card for the Galwayman.
"It's the most important factor of the night isn't it," said Martin.
"It's totally changed the game, I thought for 40 minutes we were fantastic. We were in control, we were dominant. The first 15 minutes was probably as well as we have started all season.
"I'm just really disappointed for the players and our fans. In my opinion, after watching it back it's a really poor decision. I think Fulham wanted a penalty a bit before that. They were adamant in the technical area it was a penalty. They got away with much more than I did with the fourth official.
"It is not high and it’s not reckless is what I got told at half-time. It wasn’t two footed and it’s not a lunge. What's happened is the referee has followed one mistake with the penalty, if he got that one wrong, I've not seen it back.
"I couldn't believe how quickly he got the red card out, so it's ruined the game in terms of a spectacle. It was two teams, really good teams, going right at it.
"I think we showed for 40 minutes that, on our day, we can be as good as anyone."
Ryan Manning red card Swansea vs Fulham
Runaway Championship leaders Fulham scored five second half goals with Swansea getting one in reply. Fulham manager Marco Silva admitted that he initially thought a red card was not the right decision but changed his mind after the game.
"If you ask me if I thought it was a red card at the time, I have to say no," said Silva.
"After seeing Harry Wilson’s leg, I started to think in a different way.
"If you saw the leg of Harry Wilson, maybe you would think in a different way also.
"I didn’t see the broadcast image. In the first moment I thought it would be yellow but when I saw Harry’s leg I started to think in a different way.
"Maybe it’s not a red card but 15 minutes earlier it’s a clear penalty. He made a mistake there as well. It’s part of the game."
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