St Albans City will be without a recognisable left-back for three games after Lee Chappell’s red card in Monday’s 3-2 loss to Farnborough.

The 29-year-old kicked out at Phil Page in the latter stages of the game and was subsequently shown a red card.

His three-game suspension will start on December 1.

It is new ground for joint managers James Gray and Graham Golds who have only carried one left-back in the squad since Chappell came to the fore and Layne Eadie departed for Harlow Town.

Chappell, who apologised after the game on Twitter, has been extremely dependable in his time at Clarence Park, playing all but two of the Saints’ 65 games last season, but it’s that reliability that has left City without cover during his suspension.

Speaking after Monday’s game, Gray said: “What he did is criminal. It shows how naive we are at this level – you can’t get away with that. We haven’t got any cover at left-back so we’ll have to go and have a look.”

Danny Green, who this week signed dual registration with Hitchin Town, seems the most likely option if City do not opt to sign a new left-back.