Wolves manager Mick McCarthy hopes Chris Iwelumo’s red card will be rescinded after Preston defender Sean St Ledger pleaded the striker’s case to referee Martin Atkinson.

Iwelumo was sent off for clashing with St Ledger minutes after completing the hat-trick which moved Wolves three points clear at the top of the Championship.

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Wanderers also had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey dismissed for bringing down Neil Mellor in the closing stages of the visitors’ 3-1 win, with the former Liverpool striker converting the penalty.

“It was a strange afternoon for Chris,” said McCarthy. “He played exceptionally well, scored a hat-trick and got the match ball, and then got sent off!

“St Ledger has been in to see the referee to say that nothing happened and you can’t get a better witness than that. All credit to him, he’s been up against a player who’s given him a real battle and has scored a hat-trick and yet he’s still gone in to see the referee.

“It was nothing, not a clash of heads, anything, and bearing in mind the witness is the other player involved I would hope the sensible thing will be done and it will get rescinded.”

McCarthy accepted Hennessey’s red card, adding: “I’ve spoken to the assessor and the letter of the law is that if you deny someone a goalscoring opportunity you are sent off.”

The Wolves boss was also sent from the sidelines for applauding Atkinson’s decisions. He said: “That must be the first manager who has to sit in the stand for applauding the referee. I thought he did very well in the first half. I wanted to show my support for him.”