Joe Colbeck must sit out the start of next season after his costly red card.

The City player of the year was dismissed following a clash with MK Dons defender Dean Lewington.

The three-match ban will rule him out of Saturday's trip to Wycombe - but it also means he will be suspended for the opening two games in August.

Frustrated boss Stuart McCall admitted: "I was hoping it would be just one game but a reckless challenge means three. It's really bad news for us and for Joe.

"I think the noise made it sound worse. There was a loud bang when the players came together.

"I don't know whether the referee actually saw the incident or just heard the noise.

"Joe was disappointed when he thought he was going to get a yellow card and couldn't believe he was sent off."

Omar Daley pulled one back as City's ten men ran the League Two champions close in David Wetherall's final game at Valley Parade.

And Wetherall was denied a dream equaliser when his second-half header was cleared off the line.

McCall said: "It would have been a fitting end if that had gone in. Make no mistake, he's going to be a huge loss for us next season.

"But I was proud of every one of them against a top-class side who were strolling about. The effort we had to put in all round the pitch was huge and people stuck to the job manfully."

Paul Ince broke off from his title celebrations to praise McCall - and is backing his opposite number to be enjoying similar success next year.

The Dons chief said: "Stuart's been absolutely fantastic with me. He let us use the training ground, bought a bottle of champagne for me and then gave us the guard of honour when the team came out.

"Hopefully Bradford will go up next year. When you've got a fanbase of 14,000 every Saturday, you deserve success.

"Fingers crossed that next year Stuart is the one having champagne poured over his head, not me!"

Dons owner Pete Winkelman added: "Bradford have treated us very well and we have a long way to go to be like this club."

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our on-line forum - Click here