Montrose manager George Shields was furious after his side had two players sent off in the 3-0 home defeat to Peterhead.
Both were straight red cards, on either side of the interval, and controversial.
Graham Webster walked after a tackle on Jamie Redman, then Gary Wood went for an early bath for a ‘last-man’ challenge on Rory McAllister.
Assistant manager Lee Wilkie was also sent to the stand as tempers boiled over.
Shields, who says he is studying video footage of both incidents before deciding whether to appeal the decisions, is full of praise for the spirit shown by the Gable Endies after they were reduced to nine men.
But Peterhead got all their goals while it was still 11 against 11 to book their place in the next round.
They took the lead in the fifth minute when Jamie Stevenson’s corner picked out Andy Rogers, who scored with a glancing header.
The lead was doubled on 17 minutes as McAllister ran through on goal before coolly hitting home.
It was three after 27 minutes after Rogers did well to make space for himself by the byeline and his cutback was drilled in by Stevenson.
Peterhead were in cruise control in the second half at Links Park and went close to adding to their tally on a number of occasions.
Montrose will need to lift themselves as their next game is a League Cup first round clash at home to Falkirk on Saturday.