KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Mark Yates will be without striker Robbie Matthews for the visit of Crawley Town on Saturday (3pm) after the appeal against his sending off was rejected.

The former Salisbury City player saw red in the 2-1 defeat to Luton Town last weekend for an alleged stamp on the Hatters keeper.

The Aggborough side immediately launched an appeal but the case was dismissed at Wembley today and Matthews will now begin his three-match ban.

“It’s disappointing but there is nothing we can do,” Yates said. “I didn’t think it warranted a sending off at the time and I still don’t. It is a blow but so is losing Chris McPhee to injury.

“What it does is give someone else an opportunity.”

Yates has been impressed with how his Harriers side have started the new campaign after their summer overhaul.

Having lost key players like Russ Penn, Justin Richards and Adam Bartlett, Yates has had to work on a shoestring budget to find replacements.

“Apart from two matches at Salisbury and Tamworth, we have done well,” he said.

“We are challenging for the play-offs, have a lot of quality in the squad and they are all working hard for each other.

“Yes, we should have more points and the lads know we should too but I have been pleased. They are a young group of players and I believe in them.”

Crawley are four places below Harriers in 14th place and have been inconsistent but Yates is expecting a tough encounter.

“Both teams like to get the ball down and play football,” he added. “They are a good team who will give us a tough game.”

Apart from the injury to McPhee, who limped out of the Luton game with an ankle injury after a reckless challenge from Rossi Jarvis which earned him an early bath, Yates has no other injury concerns.