The player-boss came in for critisism from the Gills fans who felt the game would have been won but for his sending-off - Wednesday equalised in injury time.
However, Gills first-team coach Richard Hill has quickly leapt to Hessenthaler's defence: "Don't castigate the gaffer for this indiscretion because he has brought a lot to this football club as a player and manager.
"One or two people vented their frustrations to me as I was coming off the field and when things like that go on it's natural to look for an excuse.
"Had we gone on and won the game 1-0 it would have been forgotten.''