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Motherwell to appeal red card shown to Scott McDonald

Image: Scott McDonald; Dismissed by referee Brian Colvin during 2-1 defeat by St Mirren

Motherwell have confirmed they are to appeal the red card shown to Scott McDonald during Saturday's game at St Mirren.

The veteran striker was ordered off for elbowing Thomas Reilly during the second half of the match as Ian Baraclough's side were condemned to the relegation play-offs after a 2-1 defeat.

A red card for violent conduct carries an automatic three-game ban - meaning McDonald would miss the final league game against Partick Thistle plus both legs of the play-off final against Hibernian or Rangers.

Baraclough is confident the appeal will prove successful, saying: "Having watched it back again several times, I think it's fairly clear for everyone to see that he hasn't gone with any aggression or attempted to hurt the player and that's the view of the lad Reilly himself, who I was pleased to read today thinks it was an incorrect decision.

"For me, it's a case of a striker doing what he should do, making his body as big as it can be to try and shield the ball. There was no excessive force used, no violence in my eyes and that is the foundation for our appeal."

Motherwell general manager Alan Burrows said: "Our football administrator Karen Paterson has already submitted a Player Reference for Fast Tracking proceeding to the Compliance Officer.

"We had what I felt was a very fair and thorough experience when we appealed Stephen McManus' red card in January and I expect the same again this week."

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