Taylor sweating over Hanson red card appeal

The 22-year-old was sent off in last weekend's 5-0 victory over Oxford United in a second-half clash that also saw Mark Creighton and Jake Wright receive their marching orders.

Referee David Webb adjudged Hanson to have used his elbow on Wright in the melee that followed Creighton scything down Omar Daley but Taylor insists the officials got it wrong. He said: "We have appealed against the red card and are waiting to hear the verdict. It should arrive around lunchtime (today). I don't feel he deserved to be sent off.

"I am very strict when it comes to fining players over yellow or red cards but, in this instance, even if the appeal is turned down James will not be fined. He didn't do anything wrong.

"It was the Oxford boy Wright who made something out of it. Everyone else seemed to accept the red card for the original tackle was the correct decision and was willing to leave it at that.

"If anything, Wright's team-mates were trying to calm him down. It is not ideal that we have to wait until the day of the game to find out if James will be available or not but that is how it is."

If the appeal fails, Hanson will serve a three-game ban – starting tonight with the trip to Bury. He would also be ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup first-round tie at Colchester United and the League Two encounter at Wycombe Wanderers a week later.

Should the ban be upheld, it would force manager Taylor into at least one change against the Shakers with Louis Moult a possible starter after netting his first goal for the club in the five-goal hammering of Oxford.

Even, however, if Hanson is handed a reprieve then the Bantams manager may be without one key performer with Lee Hendrie having missed training yesterday through cramp.

The former England international joined City on a short-term deal in mid-September and is contracted to the club until the new year.

Taylor said: "Lee has done very well. He brings that little bit of class to the team. Whether he can play two games in a week at the moment is something we will decide before the Bury game.

"He is here until January 4 and I am sure we will have a chat before then about possibly extending that stay."

Last six games: Bury DDWWWW, Bradford City LLWWLW.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne & Wear).