CENTRE back Jon Ashton fears his recent red card against Swansea City at the Kassam Stadium could cost him more than the two-match suspension which he has now served.

It was the Oxford United defender's second sending-off of the season and led to him missing the first two matches of the Argentinian management's reign, against Cambridge and Grimsby.

And with the U's collecting four points from those two League Two games, Ashton admits he doesn't know whether he'll be able to come straight back into the side in their next match at Rushden on Sunday.

He said: "Getting sent off was a bit of a blow. Hopefully I'll get selected for the side, but we'll have to wait and see.

"It's a bit disappointing to miss the start of the new coaching team coming in. Dave Woozley went straight in there and the team have had a couple of goods results. They might not want to change a successful side so I'm not sure whether I'll get back in."

Woozley made a mistake for the Grimsby goal in the 1-1 draw at Blundell Park last Friday, but neither centre back looked convincing on the night.

In Ashton's favour is the fact that he is the only one of the centre halves at the club to have genuine pace.

But coach David Oldfield will no doubt be telling head coach Horacio Rodriguez that there are other factors to consider

One of these is that Leo Roget played for Rushden last season, and felt let down by the Northamptonshire club who sold a load of players soon after he signed for them, so will be desperate to do well on his return to Nene Park.

Ashton's disciplinary record is one of the poorest in Coca-Cola League Two.

Top of the 'Bad Boys' table is former United defender Wayne Hatswell who, like Ashton, has had two red cards this season, but he has also collected seven yellows.

His latest early bath came last Saturday in Kidderminster's 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham.

It was for serious foul play and resulted in him being handed a four-match ban (as it was his second red card), ruling him out of basement club Kidderminster's game at the Kassam Stadium next Tuesday.

Ashton, meanwhile, still feels hard done by with the two yellow cards he got against the Swans.

"I thought the last red card I got was a bit harsh but I've got to just take it in my stride and make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.