GARY ROBERTS has been given the go-ahead to take on Swindon Town tomorrow after the Football Association rescinded his red card at Darlington.
Town’s tricky winger was facing a three-match suspension after being sent off in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.
But Cambridgeshire referee Andy Wright’s ruling that Roberts was guilty of serious foul play in challenging Ricky Ravenhill in the 37th minute of Town’s 1-0 defeat was overturned by Soho Square.
That means the 24-year-old former Ipswich Town man, who scored his fourth Town goal in last week’s 3-2 home defeat by League I leaders Leicester City, is in line to retain his ever-present record.
“It’s a boost for us,” said manager Stan Ternent, who will give a late fitness test to on-loan Derby County striker Liam Dickinson after ruling out fellow hamstring injury victim Ian Craney.
“We thought Robbo’s red card was harsh, both at the time and after viewing the film of the game, and appealing a red card isn’t something we’d go into lightly.”
On Craney and Dickinson, Ternent explained: “Ian has a grade two tear, which is the middle one of three in terms of seriousness, so it’s a case of seeing how he responds to treatment.
“Liam felt tightness in the aftermath of the Leicester game, but he trained yesterday, so we’re hopeful he’ll be available.”
The pressure is on Swindon, who are a place below Town in 18th with the same nine points from nine games record, because they have lost their last four home games in a row.
But while Town were going down at Darlington, they won 2-1 in their JPT second-round tie at Hereford United.
After making 10 changes at Darlington, Ternent is set to return to a more familiar line-up down in Wiltshire, saying: “This is a game we’re more than capable of winning.”
