Ian Henderson's 44th-minute dismissal has put high-flying Rochdale on the back foot after a goalless first half of their Lancashire derby with Bury at Gigg Lane.
The visitors can climb to the top of the League Two table with victory tonight, but face an uphill task now that the Shakers have a man advantage.
Henderson was shown the first of two quickfire bookings for deliberate handball as he attempted to control a lofted ball into the box, and then saw yellow again before the break for tugging back Danny Mayor.
Rochdale's striker had previously been starved of goalscoring chances in an opening 45 minutes in which they failed to register a shot on target against Manager of the Month David Flitcroft's improving side.
He felt that he should have had a penalty when he knocked the ball round Brian Jensen and went to ground, but there appeared to be little contact and referee Darren Drysdale waved play on.
Bury registered a couple of efforts on goal as Daniel Nardiello grazed the crossbar with a powerful drive from an angle, and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro called Josh Lillis into action with a bobbling long-range strike.
