Chris Wilder says suspensions for James Constable and Matt Green against FA Cup opponents Thurrock this Saturday will simply open the door for others.

And he’s not disappointed that the duo will serve their suspensions in a game in which the U’s will be strong favourites.

“It opens it up for an opportunity for someone else,” he said.

Jack Midson is a definite starter, but there could now be an opening for one of Alfie Potter, Sam Deering or Marcus Kelly to stake their claim.

“Jack’s been patient,” Wilder said, as he reflected on the players’ fifth yellow cards.

In James Constable’s case, it came after Michael Rankine went sprawling theatrically.

“The cards were going to come sooner rather than later.

“I thought Greeny’s booking was ridiculous.

“Constable’s got an edge to him and he does challenge. When you’ve got people diving all over the place, it’s not good, but you have to get on with it.

“We’ll dust ourselves down, and work on our strikers and system through the week.

“We did say on Friday that if there was a game to lose them, it would be this – and that’s no disrespect to the opposition.

“Those two have been walking on a tightrope for a couple of games, they’ve got it over and done with, and now we can look forward to getting them back the week after.”

Meanwhile, York boss Martin Foyle will appeal against the ludicrous yellow card the fourth official told him to hand out to Richard Brodie for kicking the ball into the stands in celebration at City’s goal – when it was in fact Adam Smith who had done it.

It is Brodie’s fifth yellow card and would rule him out of York’s big clash at Luton tomorrow night, but they are confident of winning their appeal on the basis of mistaken identity.

Foyle felt his team deserved the three points.

“I’m very disappointed not to have won, but we played some absolutely super stuff,” he said.

“They had only one shot, which is great credit to our defence as well.”