Maher (right) saw red after clashing off the ball with Duguid

Maher was shown a straight red card after the pair clashed off the ball.

"He was holding his face and I'd not even touched him. How can a fellow professional do that?" Maher said.

But Duguid hit back: "He's put his face in my face. If you do that you get sent off, it's as simple as that. It doesn't matter to me what he says."

Maher added: "I spoke to one or two of their players and they said he's the only one in their team who would react like that, and I think that says a lot."

Southend boss Steve Tilson is planning to appeal against Maher's dismissal - while U's manager Geraint Williams will review video evidence before deciding whether to take any internal action against his skipper.