Midfielder Jean-Francois Christophe has denied that he hit former Southend player Nicky Bailey on Friday night.

The Frenchman was sent off against Charlton Athletic for violent conduct following an off the ball incident.

The Addicks camp claim that Christophe lashed out at Bailey but Christophe laughed off that suggestion this afternoon, instead insisting he only shoved Bailey.

"I just pushed him in the chest - I never hit him - and he fell to the floor like I had punched him in the face," Christophe confirmed to southendunited.co.uk.

"The next thing I see is him rolling around like a dog - it's a bit embarrassing.

"I was disappointed to see that, we are on the pitch to play football.

"I know I shouldn't have pushed him but the way he reacted he knew exactly what he was doing which is bad for football and bad for us."

Referee Kevin Wright handed Christophe his marching orders in the 25th minute whilst Bailey, who appeared to instigate the incident, was only handed a caution.

That disappointed the former Portsmouth midfielder who also apologised to his team-mates at full-time as the ten men of Southend finished on the losing side once more.

"The strangest thing was that the referee only gave Bailey a yellow card which I felt was harsh," he said.

"The referee didn't say anything to me. I just said 'did you see what he did to me' and he just gave me the red card.

"At the end of the game I apologised to my team-mates as it was wrong of me to get involved like that.

"I was annoyed with myself as we lost and we should have won the game and picked up three valuable points - I am very frustrated to do such a silly thing."

As a result Christophe will now be suspended for Blues next four matches having previously been sent off this season.

He will miss matches big against Hartlepool, Exeter, Carlisle and Walsall as Steve Tilson's side bid to avoid relegation.

"Every match is a big game now," he added. "With the situation we are in and being short of numbers I am really upset to miss four games."