YORK City intend to appeal against goalkeeper Chris Porter's controversial sending off during last night's 1-0 home defeat against Accrington Stanley.

Porter was dismissed after 20 minutes for supposedly preventing Accrington midfielder Ian Craney from having a clear goalscoring opportunity.

But the 25-year-old stopper was not City's last man with player-boss Chris Brass a covering defender.

Afterwards, Brass said: "The red card certainly cost us. I got a touch in front of the attacker and flicked the ball over Chris' head so I did not collide with him.

"I did not see what then happened with Chris and their player but, in the rules, it's only a red card if he's the last man so, if anything, I feel it should have been a booking.

"I can't really comment on it until I have seen the video but we will certainly be appealing against it and I hope there's enough evidence to let the lad off because he had looked quite assured until then."

Porter's early bath led to a home debut for 18-year-old David Stockdale between the sticks and the Leeds-born youngster excelled despite conceding Paul Mullin's 56th-minute match-winner.

A string of fine saves earned Stockdale the man-of-the-match award and could see him start at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday if Porter's immediate suspension is upheld and Paul Crichton's departure from the club is confirmed.

In his programme notes, board member Terry Doyle vowed that Crichton had played his last game for the club following an argument with supporters during Saturday's 4-0 drubbing at Gravesend & Northfleet but Brass said: "I will speak to Paul Crichton again today and take it from there. I am still dealing with it internally."

About Stockdale's display last night, Brass added: "Sometimes in circumstances like we have had with the goalkeepers, someone steps forward and you have to give David Stockdale some credit. He's a young lad with a good physique and a great amount of potential and he performed.

"I'm very pleased for him and he's given me a nice, little poser with the problems we have got in that position at the moment. He has to build on from that and I hope it gives him a massive lift.

"We will see how he responds but, certainly, from what I have seen tonight, I would have no qualms putting him in again. Like everybody, we now need to see him reach levels of consistency."

Despite slipping to 18th in the Nationwide Conference table and failing to score for the fourth time in five games, Brass was also pleased with his side's improved display after the crushing defeats against Hereford and Gravesend & Northfleet.

He said: "I asked for something back and a performance and I got one. We have had a baptism of fire in the Conference but that was a good, good performance especially being down to ten men for 70 minutes.

"There's a way to win football matches and a way to lose them and, while it's always horrible to lose, we lost in the right manner. We did not deserve to and it's a platform to build on. I think we have seen what this side is capable of.

"If we had come away with a draw or possibly nicked a win, I think that would have been fair. Their goal was a rather unfortunate ricochet and we did not get one in their box.

"But one swallow doesn't make a summer and we've got to do it week in, week out now."

As well as Stockdale, Brass singled out defenders Dave Merris and Steve Davis for individual praise, as well as striker Paul Robinson who came on as a 72nd-minute substitution despite suffering from gastro-enteritis.

The City boss also hailed the club's supporters who, even without the 207 travelling Accrington contingent, ensured that the gate did not fall below the budgeted 2,000 mark despite the recent setbacks.

Brass said: "Our fans are not stupid and are well within their rights to voice their disapproval when things are not right. They wanted to see lads go out, perform and give their all and I think they saw players against Accrington who had pride in wearing the red shirts of York.

"If we give a level of performance like that in every game they will back us to the hilt. If we are found wanting and are not prepared to roll our sleeves up and give what we can then they pay their money and can scream and shout whatever they want."

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, September 01, 2004