YORK City boss Billy McEwan will study video evidence today before deciding whether to fine red-carded debutant Stuart Elliott.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Elliott conceded a penalty and was sent off following an off-the-ball clash with Cambridge United striker Leo Fortune-West in the penalty box.

Lee Boylan went on to convert the 56th-minute spot kick, to consign City to a 2-1 opening day defeat and McEwan will now be without Elliott's services for the next three matches, meaning he misses the trips to Burton Albion and Exeter City, as well as the home match with Forest Green Rovers.

Following the fourth red card of 29-year-old Elliott's professional career, McEwan said: "I didn't see the incident, but the ref says he raised his arms at the player. The player says the other guy raised his arms first and there was also a late challenge involved, but the ref has turned round and only seen Stu raise his hands.

"It's disappointing from a senior player, but I will have to look at the video before making any judgements."

Former Premiership referee Alan Wilkie, who was assessing Saturday's official Jock Waugh, confirmed Elliott was given his marching orders for striking Fortune-West in the face, and McEwan added: "If that's right it's disappointing and it will cost him money because that's wrong. He's a competitive player, but he's no good to us sat in the stand."

McEwan also felt Cambridge could have been reduced to ten men prior to Elliott's dismissal with visiting captain Danny Brown guilty of two crunching first half challenges on City skipper Manny Panther.

The City boss added: "We've got players who are black and blue. It's a physical game and that's the sport we are in, but you hope for some protection. Manny Panther nearly got his leg broken on a couple of occasions and then the card's come up for something I would call petty when it could have come out for the other side."

McEwan may now look to make a new signing before tomorrow night's trip to Burton with Elliott's fellow midfielder Phil Turnbull requiring a shoulder operation at the weekend.

Former Manchester United trainee Ross Greenwood was introduced to the action following Elliott's sending off and is likely to start at the Pirelli Stadium.

McEwan said: "Ross did well and he's a good young player. We know what he's all about, but we are a little bit short of midfield players now and we will need to have another look at that situation."

Despite also being "very, very disappointed" by the nature of Cambridge's equalising goal following a corner from former City midfielder Mark Convery, McEwan was not despondent after kicking off the new season with a defeat.

He said: "Their first goal was soft and I'm disappointed but not downbeat. We will have setbacks along the way this season but a lot of positives came out of the game.

"We hit the crossbar and had other good situations and dominated for long periods of the game. We also had six players ill with a bug on Wednesday and a number of players did well to play the game.

"That's why we signed Joey Hutchinson. He came in for a couple of days training with us and was on the bench."