STEVE MCCLAREN feels that Aleksandar Mitrovic is being judged on reputation after his sending-off in Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

Mitrovic was a 16th minute dismissal for the Magpies after a rash challenge on Francis Coquelin in a game in which Fabricio Coloccini diverted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot into his own net to give the Gunners victory.

The Serb has quickly earned a negative reputation after a stormy start to his career on Tyneside. Booked moments into his debut against Southampton, Mitrovic went into the referee’s notebook in the away defeat to Swansea before his sending-off against Arsenal, and McClaren was forced to defend the £13million signing, who faces a three-match ban.

“There is no intent in anything he wants to do – he just wants to win the ball. He is a winner,” said McClaren, who is considering an appeal against Andre Marriner’s decision.

“He’s only played a couple of games and come on a couple of times and perhaps refs have been too busy watching Match of the Day instead of assessing their own game. That can be a problem. Our discipline does have to be better but we felt harshly done by.

“I’ve seen it over and over … it’s come over his head, he’s looking at the ball, there is no intent, there is no maliciousness, it’s just coming down and he’s just stamped on his foot.

“I am very surprised after the way their player rolled about that he was able to carry on.

“But at that stage of the game I thought it was a bit too soon and a bit too harsh, trying to put stamp on the game but it ended up ruining the match.”

Replays showed that Mitrovic stepped into the challenge with Coquelin and made contact with the midfielder’s shins. The 20-year old was dismissed for serious foul play relating to the excessive nature of the tackle, but McClaren does not feel that Newcastle were overly physical in the game.

He added: “It definitely was not dangerous. It was clumsy but I have seen plenty of clumsy challenges. Football is a contact sport, it’s a physical sport and we cannot take that away.

“And I don’t think any of the tackles - and don’t get me wrong the seven yellows and red card -it was not a dirty game and we’ve not kicked them off the park.

“They were fouls and I think the ref has reacted too harshly with every one of them – a bit too soon, a bit too rash.”