The club have since confirmed they will appeal against the red card which if uphold would rule the 26 year old out of the FA Cup tie against Blackpool along with the Championship games aganst Leicester City and Coventry City.
"I was hoping we would appeal because I felt it was a yellow card at worst." Stead revealed to the Official Club Website.
"To look up and see the red card was a massive shock to me. It wasn't two footed, I didn't leave the ground. It was just a mis-timed tackle and a yellow card would have been plenty.
""If anything I thought it was a foul on me before the tackle but I didn't lunge at anyone or try and hurt the player.
"I tried to speak to the referee before he showed the card but their players made it difficult in the way they were surrounding him and that was disappointing. We're all fellow professionals playing the same game
"But as soon as they saw the red card, some of the Palace players turned around and said to me 'It wasn't a red card, you are unlucky.'
"I'm hoping the appeal comes through because it kills me. I've just got back in the team and now I could be out for three games."