Matthews suspended for Crawley clash

The FA yesterday rejected the club's appeal to have his red card rescinded for an alleged stamp on Luton goalkeeper Mark Tyler in last Saturday's 2-1 defeat, after a prolonged review of the evidence.

Matthews' will now miss tomorrow's game (3pm), next Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Fleetwood and possibly the trip to Cambridge on October 31 - provided Harriers' are not forced to a replay in the cup, which would count as another match served.

To add injury to insult, skipper Chris McPhee will also miss out with bruised ankle ligaments.

Manager Mark Yates must now plot a way past Steve Evans' physical side, who aim to battle through a three-match winless streak.

The Harriers boss said: "It's another tough game - Crawley are a big, strong and organised side. They have got a good mix of size and power but also some very good footballers. We are the same, we are strong and can play.

"We are not interested in roughing up, we just want to compete in the right way. We will just have to deal with whatever happens. But we are at home, and it should be a good game."

Yates and the controversial Evans clashed when 10-man Harriers were at Crawley last December, former skipper Mark Creighton seeing red in a 1-0 defeat.

The home boss' gushing tributes to his team at the final whistle irked his opposite number, who had the last laugh in the ensuing 2-0 win at Aggborough in March.

Yates said: "I remember last season, we went a man down at their place and lost well, then we won well at home. They're a good team and, despite what people think, I don't have a problem with Steve.

"He wants to win games, just like I do, we may not always see eye-to-eye on the touchline but it's not a problem."