Darlington will be appealing against David McGurk's sending off at the weekend, manager Mick Tait has insisted.

McGurk was one of seven Quakers players to be cautioned by referee Trevor Kettle, who controversially dismissed the Teessider after a second bookable offence.

The 21-year-old was sent off three minutes into the second half of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Mansfield after challenging for the ball with Stags defender Tony Vaughan.

And while Vaughan, who showed as much aggression as McGurk when going for the ball, was let off with a talking to by the Berkshire official, the Quakers defender now faces a one-match ban.

"We'll certainly appeal against that because it's an absolute disgrace," fumed Tait.

"One of the few bookings he should have made was when Matt Clarke ran 40 yards before kicking the ball away.

"I think one man has decided the game today and it has cost us dear.

"I just asked the referee after the game how can he sleep at night after a performance like that because I'm sure I wouldn't be able to."

The defeat at Field Mill brought to an end Quakers' six-match unbeaten run in the League.

However Tait was full of praise for his side, after they were forced to play the majority of the second half with ten men.

"I thought we started very slowly but we gradually worked our way back into it and I thought he did very well in the second half even with ten men," said Tait

"It's hard straight after half-time to lose a man but I thought we worked very hard.

"If we show that kind of attitude every week we won't go far wrong. We've just got to forget about today and look forward to our next game."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Michael Price will be fit to face Bristol Rovers at the Reynolds Arena this Saturday.

The Quakers number two sustained a head injury in the second half after saving bravely at the feet of Stags striker Junior Mendes.

However, Tait is confident that the stopper will be available, with first choice goalkeeper Andy Collett already sidelined for a month with a collapsed lung.

"Michael was having a few stitches put in but he should be alright," said Tait.

Read more about the Quakers here.