Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes the straight red card Miguel Britos received against Preston North End was unfair and says the Hornets will appeal the decision.

The Uruguayan centre-back was sent off 74 minutes into his Golden Boys debut for violent conduct.

Britos appeared to throw a punch at a Lilywhites defender after he went forward for a Watford corner but Flores insists the incident was not worthy of the straight red card that followed.

“I saw what happened. He (Britos) put his arm against his chest. Not in his face. For that I think it’s a yellow card, and a second yellow card I accept. But it’s not a straight red card,” the Spaniard said.

“It’s unfair. It’s not enough for a straight red card. We play in England and contact is permitted. The contact that was made is soft and slow.

“Maybe it’s a yellow card and that would have been his second and he still would have been sent off.

“But the action is not a strong enough. I respect the referee but I believe it wasn’t a straight red card.”

Flores, and midfielder Ben Watson, both said Britos apologised after the game and Watford’s head coach admitted an appeal is likely to be launched.

“I think so, yes,” Flores said. “The feeling of the referee is he has hit him in the face. But he has softly hit him in the chest. Hopefully the FA will reduce the ban.”

Britos served two games of a three-match ban after moving to Watford from Napoli for heading-butting Juventus’ Alvaro Morata in Serie A last season.

Flores said he didn’t speak to the centre-back about his conduct after the switch and added: “He was calm (against Preston). He played well with the ball, was brave and was driving forward. In defence he had some problems and didn’t make the right decisions at certain times.

“But the action is separate. The ball was stopped. At that moment players can make mistakes.”

He continued: “He (Britos) hadn’t played an official match for two months. That is very difficult. I had the chance to put Britos in the team last week but I thought it wasn’t the moment.

“Two months without an official match is too long. So there were a lot of difficulties for him to play well today.

“That is normal after two months. It’s difficult to put in a performance.”

Watson, who came closest to scoring for the Hornets at Deepdale, stressed Britos has been an excellent addition to the Golden Boys squad following his switch from Naples.

“He’s been great since he came in,” the former Wigan Athletic midfieler said. “He’s a top player. He’s played at the top level, played for Napoli and in the Champions League.

“I’m disappointed for him. He’s just come back from a suspension and now, by the looks of it, he’s going to get another one.”