Hearts boss Gary Locke hopes to overturn defender Kevin McHattie’s weekend red card after a generous supporter offered to cover the £1,000 cost of an appeal.
The 10-man Gorgie outfit stunned Aberdeen with a 2-1 win on Saturday as 17-year-old substitute Jordan McGhee grabbed a late winner in a drama-filled Tynecastle encounter.
McHattie was dismissed for bringing down Dons striker Calvin Zola in the box but Locke is convinced his man won the ball.
With Hearts currently banned from signing new players, Locke is loath to lose any more members of his squad and hailed the “special offer” the club had received.
He said: “I’ve had a look at Kevin’s sending-off again and I think it was a good tackle.
“From my point of view, we don’t have a big squad and it is one we will definitely appeal because I think he gets the ball and I don’t want to lose a player.
“I certainly wouldn’t appeal against something if I thought the decision was OK.
“But even at the game I thought it was a good challenge and after watching it several times I’ve not changed my opinion on that.
“There is a cost to lodging appeals and that has to be taken into consideration but we have had an offer from a supporter to pay it.
“Whether we go down that route I’m not so sure but it just shows you that I’m not the only one who feels aggrieved by the decision and that there are people out there willing to help us.
“It’s a special offer but it doesn’t surprise me because the fans have been like that for the last two years.”
Locke will be able to pick McHattie for tonight’s League Cup clash with Raith Rovers, regardless of his appeal as the one-match ban he is due to serve will only apply to Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Captain Danny Wilson has also been handed an automatic one-game ban after receiving a red card after the final whistle against Aberdeen on Saturday.
His ban also applies to league games only.