The Perth Glory were left seeing red after having a man controversially sent off in a 3-1 A-League football defeat at ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners.
Glory defender Josh Mitchell was shown a straight red by referee Matt Gillett in the 25th minute despite winning the ball in a sliding tackle on Oliver Bozanic.
Perth fought bravely for the remainder of the first half but were blown off the park after that as Bernie Ibini, Pedj Bojic and Matt Simon all got on the scoresheet.
The home side pegged one back in the 83rd minute when Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan uncharacteristically fumbled Steven McGarry's long-range drive into the back of the net.
But it was little consolation for Perth, who will enter the Christmas break in eighth spot following their seventh loss from their past nine games.
The Mariners' sixth win on the trot lifted them five points clear of second-placed Melbourne Heart and six ahead of Brisbane, who play on Monday, with Central Coast also enjoying a superior goal difference.
