Andy Carroll sent off on first start for Dagenham & Redbridge in FA Cup tie

Andy Carroll was sent off in the 45th minute of his first start for Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, receiving a red card in the FA Cup tie against Bedford Town.

The 36-year-old striker, who had been handed the captain's armband for the match, had made his debut for the Daggers last week as a second-half substitute in a 5-2 loss to Worthing after recovering from a hamstring injury. Dagenham & Redbridge issued a brief update during Saturday's game confirming Carroll had been dismissed.

Carroll joined the National League South side in July after ending a one-year spell with French club Bordeaux. His arrival coincided with a change of ownership at Dagenham & Redbridge: a consortium of Qatari private investors purchased the club on the same day, appointing Youseph Al Sharif as interim chairman and bringing former captain Anwar Uddin MBE into a non-executive director role. Reports at the time said Carroll acquired a minority stake as part of his move.

Discipline has been an issue for the east London club in recent matches; Saturday's sending-off marked the third consecutive game in which Dagenham & Redbridge have been reduced to 10 men. Carroll had taken the captaincy for the Bedford Town fixture and was dismissed just before half-time.

Off the field, Carroll has been the subject of attention over his personal life. He responded last week to reports that he and influencer Lou Teasdale had split by posting a photograph of the couple on social media, countering speculation of a second break-up.

On signing for the club in July, Carroll said: "I'm really excited to get started with Dagenham. My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea - they'll be in for a shock." He added that the move would allow him to be closer to his family after his time in Bordeaux.

Carroll won 17 caps for England during his career and has played at Premier League level for several clubs. His move to Dagenham & Redbridge represented a return to English football and to a club where he has an ownership stake while seeking regular playing time following injury. The club now faces further scrutiny over repeated in-match dismissals as it prepares for upcoming fixtures.