TOWN boss Andy Ritchie has decided not to appeal against the late sending-off of man-of-the-match Michael Collins.

The Eire Under 21 international was dealt a second yellow card after getting involved in a melee four minutes from time by Cambridgeshire whistler Darren Deadman, who has brandished more cards this season than any other Football League official.

Ritchie said: "I was disappointed with the sending-off. I know he put his hand on the back of Ryan Smith but I think the ref thought he'd pushed his head into Gary Taylor-Fletcher's.

"I didn't see it that way but we've had a real hard look at the video and it does appear that Michael raises his hand, so there doesn't seem much point in appealing as you are not allowed to do that.

"If we'd got a good cause to appeal then we would have done."

Collins will miss only Friday's visit to Northampton.

Ritchie added: "I did feel that the Millwall lad lunged in two-footed on Joe Skarz which sparked everything off. If there was contact made, then maybe Smith should have been sent off as well.

"I was disappointed with Micky's booking in the first half because it was for dissent.

"I think he had a justified call, he was fouled three times before the ref, well, before the ref didn't give anything.

"They had three hacks at him before he lost the ball so surely if he says he's playing advantage then he has to give a free kick. I'm sure that's what Micky was trying to say to the ref, but he didn't say it in the right way."

And Collins revealed: "It was a nothing incident and I think the ref's looked at it wrongly.

"I put my hand up to the back of Smith's head as if to say, `look, there's only two minutes left, let's just leave this,' but as I've done that, he's gone forward as if to try and get Gary Taylor-Fletcher and the ref has seen it from the wrong angle and thought I'd pushed his head.

"That's not the case and I will protest my innocence because it is a wrong decision and hopefully the ref will see that he's made mistake. But, with appeals, they don't always rescind decisions so it's really just one of those things.

"It did take the gloss off my goal and man-of-the-match award from the sponsors, but I'll learn from this and if anything kicks off in the future, then I'll just stay well out of the way."

Away from the late incident, Town's 4-2 victory ensured League I safety while scuppering Millwall's outside hopes of making the play-offs.

Afterwards, Millwall boss Willie Donachie was philosophical.

He said: "I was disappointed with the attitude and performance of my players, which was basically, we're winning 1-0 and we're going to win this without working hard and we think we are better than we actually are.

"I take a bit of responsibility because I picked a team that was very attack-minded, but I still feel that if their attitude had been right we had enough good players to win the game.

"It has shown me that in this League you need strong, honest and committed players, rather than talented ones."

And when asked if he would like to meet Town in the play-offs next season, the Scotsman replied: "Auch, no way, it's straight up for us!"