Fed-up Oxford United star Chris Hackett insists he is not a dirty player.

The pacy right winger was sent off for the fourth time in his Oxford career against Grimsby on Saturday with what the referee deemed to be a dangerous two-footed challenge on Andy Parkin- son.

The 22-year-old, who is upset to now have to miss the U's next three games through suspension, said: "People who know me know I'm not that kind of player.

"It was a heat-of-the-moment thing and I've had a lot worse on me, I can tell you.

"I feel a little bit hard done by to have got sent off, but you have to get on with it and move on."

Hackett, who was also shown the red card in the local derby against Wycombe at the Kassam Stadium last season, insisted: "I'm not going to change the way I play. It's just part of the game.

"I know I won the ball cleanly. I admit I jumped in a bit, but it wasn't high at all.

"But having seen the video, the referee, who was some way away, didn't see that I was low, and Parkinson went over the top of me and crashed onto the ground, which made it look a lot worse.

"I might have lunged to win the ball, but there was no malicious intent.

"I think the trouble is that sometimes, at the level we're playing at, the consistency of the referees isn't so great and there's no leeway at all with them.

"Sendings-off can affect games both ways and unluckily for me it affected us the wrong way as Grimsby went on to win it.

"It was disappointing because we'd got back into it and were playing well.

"But the most disapppointing thing for me is having to miss three games. As a player, games like the derby FA Cup tie at Cheltenham this Saturday are the ones you want to play in.

Hackett is also set to miss the League Two game against Cheltenham at Whaddon Road next Tuesday and the trip to bottom club Torquay on December 10.