The player is obviously at fault and can't complain at his sending off. I do think this might end up on an FA training video though as perhaps not the best practice for a referee. If a player is compliant, and dare I even say placid, then by all means meet them half way. But if an angry player is marching towards you it really isn't a good idea to move towards them with your arm out, either hold your ground or possibly even back away so that it is clear to everyone that the player is coming after you. The further the distance they have to travel the more likely it is they will have calmed down, even if just a little, by the time they reach you.
Strikes me as a little similar to the Dean Smith sending off tonight. He says something, the referee shows a yellow, Smith (like the player in this case) just can't help himself and says something that sees the yellow turn red within a few seconds.