WYCOMBE WANDERERS were forced to explain why boss Michael Duff disappeared halfway through Saturday’s win over Burton Albion.
Duff, 48, went in at the break with his side 1-0 up thanks to an early goal from Caolan Boyd-Munce.
But the Chairboys manager was unhappy with one of the decisions made by referee Alex Chilowicz.
And a barney with the match official at half-time saw Duff shown a straight red card for dissent.
The fact the altercation took place in the tunnel at Adams Park meant the home fans had no clue why their gaffer had not returned for the second period.
It was only when Wycombe released a statement on social media that the fiasco was cleared up.
It read: “Michael Duff has been shown a red card during the half-time interval, and will therefore not be in the dugout for the second half.”
First-team coach Alex Morris patrolled the Wycombe technical area for the rest of the game and watched his players pull even further ahead.
Quickfire goals from Luke Harris and Nathan Lowe made sure of the points as Wycombe went ninth in League One with a 3-0 win.
Morris later revealed that former Burnley centre-back Duff – barred from even sitting in the stands – was forced to keep up with the game from the dressing room, where he watched via a video link that was three seconds behind play.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Morris also admitted that he and Duff had “found a way to communicate” so that the head coach was still calling the shots.
He said: “He’s pleased, obviously he was frustrated not to be out there because you can’t affect and influence the game like you want to as the manager when you’re sat indoors.
“But he’s pleased with how the boys responded, he was pleased with the way they reacted to the adjustments that we made at half-time.
“And ultimately, we closed the game out really professionally.”
