Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini thinks that the red card for midfielder Ederson in the 2-0 defeat at home to Inter on Sunday spoilt the game.

The hosts were a goal down when Ederson received a second booking after sarcastically applauding the a decision to give him his first yellow card for dissent.

"This ruined the end of the game and it's a shame, for the team but also for the opponents and for the people," Gasperini, who was also sent off, told DAZN.

"The referee exaggerated. Ederson is a fair player, it is true that he made a mistake with the applause but the referee ruined the match.

"There are episodes and words much worse than applause. After that, the game petered out and it's a shame. It was a good game between the first and third-placed sides. Ruining it is bad for everyone."

Inter went a goal up in the 54th minute through Carlos Augusto, having scored from a corner immediately after the game resumed following an interruption while a supporter received medical treatment.

Gasperini was asked whether the delay in play affected his side, but refused to use it as an excuse.

"In the first half we defended very well on set pieces, then a fan was sick and the game was suspended, for both us and them," he said.

"These are certainly not lucky episodes and we should have been more careful. We often concede goals like this with Inter, obviously they are stronger than us."

Atalanta trail league-leading Inter by six points following the defeat with nine games to go after the international break. Despite the gap, Gasperini is not yet ready to admit defeat.

"There are nine games after the break. We have to find the strength to play them at our best," he said.

"We don't come out downsized. We played against one of the best teams in Europe trying to fight back and win. Atalanta must be very proud of these games."