Wolves' Stephen Hunt blasts Keith Southern

O'Hara will miss the next three games after shoving Southern in the face after being pushed in the back in the 3-1 defeat in Saturday's crucial relegation showdown.

The £5million midfielder was booed by his own fans for his actions, which came immediately after the restart following Huddersfield's third goal in the 70th minute and realistically ended any hopes of a comeback.

But team-mate Stephen Hunt and manager Dean Saunders blamed Gateshead-born Southern for his part after he lay pole-axed holding his face.

Hunt said: "Jamie raised his hands so there isn't much the referee can do from his point of view.

"But in terms of the way he (Southern) acted afterwards, it was a bit embarrassing for him. Northerners are meant to be tough but he went down like a sack of spuds.

"It was a sending off but you hope for a better reaction than that from a professional. He should have just got up instead of acting like an idiot lying on the ground.

"He got a fellow professional sent off. If people think that's fair then fair enough. Was it a sending off?

"It probably was by the letter of the law but a fellow professional shouldn't react like that."

Saunders admitted it was the correct decision but accused Southern of gamesmanship.

The Wolves boss said: "It was a sending off because if you raise your hands, it's a red card.

"He lifted his hands – not punched him – he just pushed him and the referee sent him off.

"But he (Southern) shouldn't be proud of himself the way he went down. He went down as if someone shot him.

"It was a bit of gamesmanship."