WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden has leapt to the defence of Craig Wilding following his sending off in the 1-1 draw at Weston-super-Mare.

The skipper was shown red in the first minute of the second-half after a clash with the Seagulls’ Mark Mc-Keever. However, the St George’s Lane chief was less than happy with that and several other decisions by referee Anthony Coggins.

“The referee had three big decisions that would affect the outcome of the match,” Dryden said. “The sending off of Craig was a one of them.

“The two lads went up for the ball, Craig turned his back on their lad and the arms went up.

“Then the Weston player went down like a sack of potatoes, I thought he was going to be in hospital for three weeks!”

A melee followed Wilding’s clash with McKeever who appeared to strike the City skipper but Coggins only issued a yellow card.

It hasn’t been the best of starts to Wilding’s tenure as captain at St George’s Lane. He began the season in the stands after missing the opening two games through suspension and then he was hauled off 10 minutes in second half of the 3-0 defeat to Hayes and Yeading United last weekend before this red card at Woodspring Stadium leaving him facing a further three-match ban.

“Craig has been unlucky,” Dryden said. “Nobody played well against Hayes.

“We played him out of position again at Weston and he was doing well until he was sent off.”

The City boss was a lot happier after this display than he was last weekend and he paid tribute to the vocal travelling support.

He now hopes that his players can give them something more to cheer about when they face Bath City at the Lane today (3pm).

“Bath is going to be another tough match,” he said. “They might not be the pre-season favourites like Chelmsford City and AFC Wimbledon, but Bath sides are always strong.”

The Twerton Park side held their tenants and the then Blue Square South leaders Team Bath to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

City will run a late fitness test on defender Shabir Khan before today’s clash, while Wilding will play his final match ahead of his three-match ban.

“Shabs is carrying a bit of groin injury,” Dryden added. “He has been doing well so hopefully he will play.”