Oxford United boss Chris Wilder vented his anger at Southend midfielder Anthony Grant after his team’s 2-1 defeat at Roots Hall.

Grant crashed to the ground after a challenge by Damian Batt which earned the U’s right back a straight red card from referee Keith Hill midway through the second half.

And Wilder said: “I’ve got to say, the boy Grant will have to be a little bit careful in his career if he’s going to dive about like that.

“I’ve watched three videos of Southend now, and I imagine every opposing manager will be saying the same, in terms of him going down at every opportunity and when there’s any touch.

“He is a diver. He tries to get people booked and sent off and he’s going to have to be careful. One day it might come back and hurt him.”

Batt will be suspended for three games, and Wilder said he is looking into whether the club will appeal against the red card.

“The referee was all over the place. He took centre stage and I was stunned with some of his decisions.

“I went in to see him at the end about that free-kick because he didn’t think we had any advantage, but we were on the edge of the box just about to lob the goalkeeper!”

The U’s didn’t play well, yet after James Constable fired them ahead with his 13th goal of the season, they had good opportunities to score a second, which would have put the game out of Southend’s reach.

But Paul Sturrock’s side hit back with two goals in three minutes just before half-time.

“I’m disappointed with my team because I thought for 25 minutes we were outstanding and should possibly have had the game wrapped up,” Wilder added. “Then we took our foot off the gas a bit and thought we could cruise it.

“And we’ve got to defend better than that and stop being naive.”

* Oxford United have been shortlisted for the Football League’s Family Club of the Year award with Cardiff City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Huddersfield Town, Reading and Shrewsbury Town.

In addition, United’s young striker Aaron Woodley is on a three-man shortlist for the League’s Football Manager Apprentice of the Year award.