FURIOUS Rossendale United manager Mark Molyneaux has vowed to contest Dean Cooper's derby dismissal last Saturday.

The midfielder was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident with Clitheroe's Jason Jones.

However, player-manager Molyneaux claimed Cooper only waved his finger at his Clitheroe opponent.

"If Dean Cooper had hit the player, he would have been kicked out of Rossendale United Football Club," the Dale boss said.

"But after speaking to numerous people, including the player himself, two others who were near the incident, supporters and committee men, he never touched him.

"The referee told me that there wasn't any contact, but he sent him off for violent conduct for waving his finger aggressively.

"Dean used to have a reputation but, since he has been with us at Rossendale, we've not had any problems because I'm big on discipline."

Molyneaux added: "We are going to put together a report and see what the next phase is.

"I will back my players 100 per cent about this decision.

"I know refereeing's a hard job but you've got to use a bit of common sense. We were down to nine men in the first minute of the second half, and that shouldn't have been a red card either."

In the meantime, Molyneaux will prepare his players for tomorrow's home game against second placed North Ferriby United.

And he is confident there won't be a problem in picking them up after last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Shawbridge.

"After we went down to nine men I was so proud of each and every player out there. They were fantastic," Molyneaux said.

"We got back into it at 2-1 with nine men. Mentally that gave us a lift but, physically, we couldn't do any more.

"But we've got a bunch of players who really care about the club.

"They were so down about the reds cards but they've reacted in the right manner and are just determined to get on with it.

"People can kick us while we're down but we'll get out of this."