CWMBRAN Town manager Brian Coyne has admitted to being totally baffled as to why he was given his marching orders during Saturday's clash with Total Network Solutions.

The Crows lost their second Welsh Premier League game 1-0 to big-spending TNS courtesy of a last-minute penalty which Coyne called "scandalous".

But Coyne insists that he is still baffled as to why he and physio Tommy Cosh were sent off by the referee following the penalty.

"It was an absolutely scandalous decision by the referee," said Coyne. "There was definitely no contact made by my player, and at the end of the day he has robbed us of a hard-earned point.

"TNS are probably the favourites for the league this year, so to match them for 89 minutes and to work so hard for 89 minutes, only to be robbed because of a poor decision, is so frustrating.

"With it coming so late in the game it also doesn't give you much of a chance to respond, and has cost us a draw.

"We more than deserved our point and I'm really upset for the players. "I was obviously annoyed and made my feelings felt, but I can't understand why I was sent off.

"I asked the referee why he sent me off, and he wouldn't tell me, so from that point of view I'm baffled.

"No doubt I will find out from someone else why the decision was made." Coyne had thought it was the first time he had been sent off, but his children soon reminded him of one occasion before when he was given his marching orders as a manager.

Meanwhile, The Crows travel to Turkey tomorrow, where they will start their preparations for Thursday's UEFA Cup second-leg match against Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa.

On Saturday Coyne used tactics that may well be employed on Thursday. "I played with one striker up front and packed the midfield, and I may well use the same tactic on Thursday."