YORK City goalkeeper Chris Porter is praying his appeal against his red card will prove successful - but in the meantime offered praise to young stand-in David Stockdale.

Porter was controversially sent off during City's 1-0 loss to Accrington Stanley at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday for allegedly denying Ian Craney a goal-scoring opportunity, a refereeing decision which was vilified by home fans.

Teenager Stockdale then took over the gloves, to become the third City stopper to play in the last two matches - Paul Crichton having been suspended by the club following an alleged spat with fans during the defeat at Gravesend on Saturday.

Porter lauded Stockdale's display but believed he should not have been thrown into the fray. "I was as shocked as any of the fans," he said of referee Mark Tilling's decision to send him off.

"I totally did not expect it. When he (Tilling) started waking towards me I thought it would be a yellow card at worst.

"The contact I made was minimal. I saw the gaffer was behind me and Lawsy (Graeme Law) was coming round from the right - I've seen it on video - and it was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity from my point of view.

"I think their player was looking for it more than anything because he knew he would not get the ball. My contact with him was very slight but he's gone down rather innocuously."

Stockdale conceded the only goal of the game after taking over between the sticks but was blameless.

Porter said: "To be fair I thought he gave a very mature performance for someone who had only played half a game before.

"He looked really safe, his handling was safe, and he came on did really well. I'm pleased for him."

Porter's red card ended an awful four days for City's goalkeepers, as it followed the altercation between previous custodian Crichton and Minstermen fans, which saw the former number one suspended by the club.

Porter preferred not to comment on that episode. "I was ill at the weekend and did not travel with the lads," he said.

"He's given his side of the story but to be honest I don't know what's gone on and I just try to keep out of it."

City boss Chris Brass confirmed that City will be lodging an appeal against Porter's red card after viewing video evidence of the incident today.

He said: "It is definitely worth appealing. We have seen it from two different angles and have slowed the action down and it shows that the referee does not consult his linesman.

"It also shows that I am covering and it looks like the forward has just ran into Chris."

Lodging an appeal means Porter will be available for selection until a decision is made.

The Football Association must be notified that a club wants to appeal against a red card by noon on the next working day following a match. An appeal must then be submitted, along with video evidence, by noon the following day.

The FA normally try and adjudicate on midweek cases by Friday but, if they cannot, Porter could be included in the squad to face Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

If referee Tilling's decision is upheld then Porter faces a one-match ban.

Updated: 11:27 Thursday, September 02, 2004