A frustrated Clive Platt has admitted he regrets his red card against Leyton Orient.

The lofty striker will sit out Colchester United’s next three matches, following his dismissal in the Carling Cup defeat.

Platt was sent off after aiming a head-butt at Orient defender Ben Chorley, in the first round clash.

The front-man was dismissed by referee Darren Deadman in the closing stages of the U’s 2-1 defeat, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Platt admitted he deserved to be sent off.

However, he said he was frustrated that he was given little protection by referee Deadman, in the face of some physical attention throughout by Orient.

Platt told the Gazette: “I shouldn’t have retaliated.

“You always have to be professional and I’m not condoning what I did.

“Looking back with a cool head, I’m frustrated with myself and I have to learn from it.

“But I just wanted to win so much.

“I was frustrated with our own performance, especially after what happened at Norwich last Saturday.

“We wanted to show the home fans more of the same.

“The start we gave them was ideal for them, because it gave them something to cling on to.

“And I was also frustrated that I didn’t get any protection from the referee.

“It was happening all through the game and I didn’t get a single free-kick.

“I talked to the referee on countless times throughout the match about it but it still happened and he didn’t see it once. But I can’t just blame the referee – I’ll have to deal with it.”

Platt’s ban will start with immediate effect.