NORTH End have lodged an appeal over the controversial red card given to Ricardo Fuller during last weekend's maddening game at Bradford.

Boss Craig Brown was left sweating over both his strikers following the 1-1 draw.

Richard Cresswell crashed into the hoardings in the the dying minutes of the game, and was knocked unconscious as a result.

Although the striker is confident he will be fit for North End's next game - against Walsall in over a week's time - Fuller may not be so lucky.

He was sent off the field for his part in the melee which erupted following Gus Uhlenbeek's controversial clobbering of Cresswell.

But now manager Craig Brown and club secretary Eddie Harrison have lodged an appeal with the FA over the decision by the linesman to signal Fuller should be sent off.

Brown said after Saturday's game: "Ricardo is the quietest, most mild-mannered guy there is and he gets far worse treatment in every game and never retaliates.

"He was just making a point on behalf of a team-mate and that could cost him three games."

The FA have two weeks to contact North End, and at the very least, North End will be hoping that the three-match ban is reduced.

This weekend's home match against Leicester has been postponed due to international call-ups.

Fuller is among those joining international sides for the weekend, playing for Jamaica in Japan.

Tepi Moilanen has also been called up for Finland, Graham Alexander for Scotland while David Healy and Colin Murdock will be checking in with Northern Ireland.

That gives Cresswell until a week on Saturday to prepare for the Walsall game. He believes video evidence shows he was clarly pushed.

Meanwhile, Preston can expect a fierce reception on November 5 when they travel to Premiership Birmingham City in the third round of the Worthington Cup.

After the controversy of the play-off penalties two seasons ago, the Blues will want nothing more than the chance to stamp their Premiership supremacy over Preston.