Skipper Jim Magilton faces an anxious wait to discover whether he faces a three-match ban as a result of last night's red card against Újpest. The Northern Irishman will hope that referee Attila Dubraviczky won't include the sending off in his match report.

Magilton was understandably unhappy at the decision and says Újpest striker Péter Rajczi repeatedly apologised to him for the headbutt which led to both players being dismissed towards the end of Újpest's 3-2 win: "I was definitely the one sinned against rather than the sinner.

"The guy nutted me, and what is worse the linesman must have seen it but did nothing. All the way off the pitch the guy was saying 'sorry, sorry' to me, so if I do miss those games I will be doubly mortified."

Former Blue Mauricio Taricco was red-carded for spitting at an opponent during Town's 1998 pre-season tour but escaped a suspension after the referee omitted the incident from his report.

If Dubraviczky does include the red cards in his report, Town will take a look at the incident on tape before deciding whether to appeal.

Assistant manager Willie Donachie, in charge of the squad in Hungary with Joe Royle advised not to travel after his operation, felt that on first viewing the referee made the correct decision: "The way I saw it the referee was about right. Jim was frustrated about us losing and not playing particularly well and it got out of hand. It will be a big blow if we are without Jim.

"We had the same problem as we have had for quite a while; we look a good footballing team but we can't keep a clean sheet. The defensive side of our game needs to be worked on and the players know that.

"We did play some superb football at times and we are a week behind Újpest in terms of pre-season training and that can make a difference.

"If we were playing our first league game in a week then I would be more worried but we have three more games to progress and we will.

"The result and the defensive side of the game was disappointing but a lot of the attacking play and the possession was very good.

"We created a couple of chances from superb football but we must improve on the defensive side.

"The team that wins the league will be the team that lets the least goals in."

More bad news from the game was Nicky Forster limping off in the first half with a thigh injury.

The Blues complete their short Hungarian jaunt with a game against Diósgyõri in Miskolc on Sunday (KO 5pm local time).

Photo: Action Images

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