Wednesday 5 November 2014 08:26, UK
Ian Holloway did not see Millwall's brave fightback against Blackburn after he was sent off during a dramatic 2-2 Sky Bet Championship draw at The Den.
The Lions boss ended up watching the scores come in on television in his office following a furious touchline row with opposite number Gary Bowyer.
Tempers flared after Millwall defender Andy Wilkinson was sent off for a late challenge on Ben Marshall right in front of the dug-outs.
Holloway took exception to Rovers counterpart Bowyer's response to the tackle and both managers had to be separated by stewards and members of their coaching staff.
Millwall assistant Marc Bircham was sent to the stands and Holloway followed later on for challenging another decision.
But just as Shaun Williams was firing the 10-man Lions level with two minutes remaining, Holloway was sipping a coffee in front of the TV results.
"I've let myself down because I told my lads I will fine anyone who reacts," he said. "But then I said something to the fourth official and he sent me off. And then he seemed more worried about where I was than anything else, but I've never been sent off here so I didn't know where I was going.
"I got in the stand but I had to leave because of a yellow card they gave their fella, that was enough for me. So I managed to find my way back down to my office, put the telly on and watched the scores come in with a nice cup of coffee. And I had a feeling we would come back.
"I've had a look at the tackle, it's a good tackle. It might look worse but it was fair, and the fella carried on afterwards. It was their reaction that I felt the ref could have dealt with better. I have got a lot of time for Gary but I didn't at that moment.
"We will be appealing absolutely everything that happened."
Rovers chief Bowyer played down the incident and said: "It was nothing. Just two teams desperate to win, a lot of passion, and nothing more than that.
"I thought the red was harsh - I thought it was a foul but thought it was harsh. I don't know what Ian thought."
Bowyer was laughing moments later when Rudy Gestede headed in Rovers' second goal to add to Shane Duffy's first-half opener.
But Millwall, fired up by their usual sense of injustice, hit back almost immediately when Lee Martin turned and fired home from 12 yards at the near post.
And Holloway was left to mop up his spilt coffee when Williams took aim from 20 yards and lashed in a superb equaliser.
Bowyer added: "We are a young group but we have to learn to control a game when we are 2-0 up and they are a man down, and we will learn from it."
