YORK City are hopeful that Dave Winfield will be available for tonight's home match against Morecambe after their appeal against his three-match ban received support from referee chief David Allison.

The Minstermen will learn whether Winfield's suspension has been lifted tomorrow lunchtime with Allison, who heads the national Professional Game Match Officials Board, agreeing that the club should contest Dorset official Keith Stroud's decision to send the 6ft 4in centre back off for dangerous play during Saturday's 1-0 win over Hartlepool.

Stroud red carded Winfield despite later footage from the match proving that the City defender had won the ball cleanly following a challenge on Pool midfielder Brad Walker.

York Press:

York City’s Dave Winfield, third from left, is shown a red card by referee Keith Stroud 44 minutes into the Bootham Crescent clash with Hartlepool 

City boss Russ Wilcox believes Allison's view should provide cause for optimism ahead of the hearing, but warned that the ex-Premier League referee also encouraged the club to challenge Jake Hyde's dismissal against Luton which, ultimately, proved fruitless.

"I spoke to Dave Allison - the head of the assessors - before we appealed against Jake's red card and he felt we had a good case but that didn't get turned over," Wilcox revealed. "He's told me he thinks we've got a good case again, but it all depends on what the two or three people on the panel think.

"Another ref might not have even seen it as a foul on Saturday. He had a good view of it but, whilst he's not allowed to look at the match DVD at the ground after the game, he promised to look at it again, which he will have to do now we've appealed.

"Dave has done a report, as we have, so hopefully we will get a fair hearing and they will come to the right decision. I don't want to lose him for three games because he's been outstanding since coming back from his loan spell with Wimbledon."

Wilcox scrutinised Winfield's challenge several times before deciding to appeal and felt no differently about the incident than he did seeing it live from the dugouts.

"I had a look at it when my emotions had died down and I was still of the same view so that's why the appeal went in with the backing of the chairman," the City chief explained. "It was a terrific challenge from a fully-committed player.

"It was one-footed and wasn't a lunge. He had to travel at speed to get to the ball because of the distance he was away from it and there was no contact with their player.

"Knowing Dave, he's somebody who plays hard but fair. We have a good, honest group at York City and I don't want any of my players to be dirty, kick people or make wrong choices when they tackle." Wilcox also feels Winfield's big frame might have unfairly counted against him in this instance, reasoning: "It's hard for big players sometimes and size can play a part in things like this.

"I played with Gary Brabin at Doncaster and he was a man-mountain. He used to go in for a challenge and, because he was bigger and stronger than everybody else, nine times out of ten the opposition player would end up on the floor and the referee would give a free kick."

The uncertainty surrounding Winfield's availability means Wilcox will not decide on his starting line up until just hours before kick-off, with Zubar on standby to switch from wing-back to the left-side of the back three and John McCombe shifting into the centre, as the pair did when City went down to ten men at the weekend. Wilcox admitted: "We will have a Plan A with Dave in the team and a Plan B without him. I thought Stephane was excellent during his second game at wing-back.

"He only gave the ball away once in the first half and took everything on board that we asked of him. He was also outstanding when he slotted in at the back and John reads the game really well as the centre one in that back three, which is important because you need to cover there and make sure you and everybody else are in the right positions."

City's first-team squad were only in for light training today with Wilcox making recuperation a priority following the weekend's exertions before his team bid for the one win that will guarantee Football League survival with three games to go.

He said: "Saturday was a massive test mentally and physically so there were a few tired bodies and minds and the players were told to rest up for an important game because we're not there yet and nothing has been achieved. Hopefully, our supporters don't think the job's been done either and will give us the same fantastic support they did against Hartlepool.

"Morecambe are a team in form and unbeaten in their last five games. Their last away win was also at Bury who are one of the best sides we've played recently.

"Jim Bentley has done an outstanding job there and he's one of football's good guys. He's in his fourth season so has been given time to change things around on a limited budget and, every season, he has come up with the goods.

"They've still got half-a-chance of getting in the play-offs but all I'm bothered about is us getting safe as soon as we can."