SEAMUS Conneely was shown a controversial early red card as Stanley slipped to 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town.

The Reds captain tackled Troy Parrott in the area but referee Bobby Madley ruled it a straight red despite protests from the Stanley camp.

Nathan Baxter saved the spot kick for the second game running and, at this stage, the Reds were 1-0 up thanks to Dion Charles’ 15th goal of the campaign.

But Ipswich, watched by former Stanley boss Paul Cook who takes charge of the Tractor Boys today fought back to win and move above Stanley into seventh place.

The defeat means the Reds are now winless in their last four games.

Paul Smyth came back into the starting line-up while Adam Phillips dropped to the bench in the only change from the 1-1 draw at Fleetwood.

Stanley got off to the perfect start when Paul Smyth’s low cross wasn’t held by Tomas Holy and Charles tapped home in the fourth minute.

But the Reds were down to 10 men on 16 minutes when Conneely was shown the disputed straight red for a foul on Parrott as he bore down on goal. James Norwood took the spot kick but Baxter superbly denied him.

The Reds appealed for a penalty of their own when Michael Nottingham went down in the area but nothing was given and Smyth blasted over from the edge of the area.

Baxter then denied Norwood for a second time on 27 minutes but Stanley suffered another blow when Parrott caught the Chelsea loan keeper and he had to be replaced by Toby Savin in the 37th minute.

Four minutes later, Ipswich were level when James Wilson rifled the ball home from close range.

Savin then produced a superb save to keep out Norwood but in the sixth minute of added on time, Norwood headed Ipswich ahead.

After the break, Stanley went in search of an equaliser and substitute David Morgan fired just over the bar before Holy produced a point blank save to keep out a Michael Nottingham header.

And there was more bad news for the Reds when Joe Pritchard, who had just returned from injury, limped offi in the 68th minute.

Stanley continued to press, Smyth was lively and Charles fired wide as they looked for an equaliser - and they managed to limit Ipswich’s chances at the other end - but they couldn’t rescue a point.