DAVID Flitcroft has reaffirmed Swindon Town's appeal of the red card shown to on-loan midfielder Kellan Gordon at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday, with forward Keshi Anderson poised to return to the squad for Saturday's visit of Mansfield to the Energy Check County Ground.

The Town boss was critical of referee Darren Bond's decision to send off Derby youngster in the second half of the 2-1 defeat in midweek after Gordon became involved in an altercation with Stanley skipper Sean McConville.

As it stands, Gordon will miss matches against the Stags, Wycombe next Tuesday and Port Vale a week on Saturday as he serves a three-game ban, but Town are convinced they have a case to see that reduced or overturned.

"We're in the process of appealing Kellan Gordon's red card. The referee said he saw a punch but that's not the case and we've sent video footage to prove that," said Flitcroft at today's pre-match press call ahead of the Mansfield match.

"I'm not a massive believer in having a go at referees but we've had a tough week. We didn't deserve to lose at Accrington and the referee did get it wrong at times. Our destiny is in our own hands, though."

January permanent signing Anderson will return to the fold for the weekend after missing the Accrington fixture for what was described as a "fatigue'' issue.

Flitcroft added: "Keshi Anderson will be back on Saturday. He trained well today and he'll be back in the fold. Amine Linganzi won't make it on Saturday but he is getting closer."

Mansfield are on a run of nine matches unbeaten in League Two as they join Town in challenging for promotion places and Flitcroft believes Saturday's contest is typical of the type of match his side can expect as they pursue their goals.

"Steve Evans (Stags boss) wins football matches and his record proves that. He builds teams to do that and he's been building it for over 12 months now," added the Town chief.

"It is about focussing on what we control and what we can do. We're in good form at home since the turn of the year and it is a top of the table clash - these are the games we want."

"It gives us an opportunity to play one of the form teams on Saturday and we're looking forward to it."

"We've got a good leadership group and the younger players have recovered really well. It is about giving the older players the right rest ratio. We've got them all mentally rejuvenated."