Steve Davis says he has one or two options to cover for suspended right-back

Steve Davis admits that losing his first-choice Matt Tootle through suspension will be a loss, but that his absence will open the door for someone else. Tootle serves a one-match ban and misses this weekend’s trip to Preston North End after being sent off for two bookable offences against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday.

With Kelvin Mellor still some way off a return due to a knee injury, Davis has to select a different right-back for the trip to Preston. The manager says he has one or two options and won’t go without something untried at Deepdale.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “It was good to get through in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy but it did come at a cost. We picked up one or two knocks which is to be expected, but we also lost Toots through suspension.

“I thought the second yellow card was harsh because we thought the referee was inconsistent on the night. In relation to the challenges on the night and the conditions they were playing in, I don’t think it was any worse than quite a few of the challenges that went on in our players. There were some far worse challenges than that one and nothing was done.

“I thought he was unlucky because the second one didn’t warrant a yellow card and the referee couldn’t wait to do it and get his red card out. It was the inconsistency that annoyed us.

He added: “Although we will miss Matt, it is only for one week and some good could come out of it because it gives Matt a short rest and someone a chance. We have Kelvin coming into training next week, so it is only this weekend we have to change things around a bit.”