CARL Martin has promised to learn the right lessons after being sent off during Crewe's 4-2 midweek win over Grimsby Town – the first red card of his career.

The defender's lunge on midfielder Michael Leary earned him an angry rebuke from Crewe manager Dario Gradi and a three-match ban.

Gradi admits he didn't see Martin's 86th-minute challenge, but was furious with the player for running with the ball rather than passing at a time when Crewe only held a one-goal lead.

The former Wealdstone player, who was making his fourth appearance for the Alex after replacing the injured Matt Tootle, admitted: "It's disappointing. It's the first red card of my career, but I'll hold my hands up.

"I'm sure we'll look at it on DVD and if Dario sees it the way he felt he did then I've got to learn from it.

"I was trying to slide the ball, but it ran away from me. There was no intention to hurt the lad. I was happy with my performance up to then."

Despite having a man advantage, Grimsby were stung by a stoppage-time goal from Clayton Donaldson to seal Crewe's 4-2 win.

"I was relieved when Clayton scored the fourth," admitted Martin.

"The main thing was to get three points."

Tootle's injury, he has a dead leg, and Martin's ban could pose a problem for Gradi at left-back ahead of Saturday's trip to Torquay.