PORT Glasgow face Royal Albert tomorrow without two key players, after what manager Craig Brown described as ‘silly red cards’.

Paul Gordon is in the middle of a three-match ban following his ordering off in the recent Scottish Cup tie against Ballingry Rovers.

And he has now been joined on the suspended list by striker Scott Nugent, who has this week been handed a two-game suspension for kicking an opponent in last week’s home defeat to Johnstone Burgh.

Brown is irritated at the loss of two of his senior players, and wants his squad to learn from the experience.

He said: “Both ordering-offs were avoidable.

“To be without two key players can affect the team, and we could be doing without picking up silly red cards.

“But the rest of the players need to step up to the mark, and not react like that whenever games are not going our way.

“We have plenty of experience in the team, so they need to make sure that doesn’t happen again tomorrow, as we won’t get it all our own way at Royal Albert.” In addition to the suspended pair, the Port will be without recent signing Mark Bowie, who has suffered a torn calf muscle which looks set to rule him out for around three weeks.

Also absent will be Scott Paterson, who is attending a family wedding down south.

Tomorrow’s fixture has taken on added importance following the release of the fixtures for the following Saturday, as well as this week’s draw for the next round of the Scottish Cup.

The Port will make the long trek to Aberdeen to face Dyce in a third round tie on 22 November.

But in an unfortunate piece of timing, they have been given a ‘free’ week in the round of games for the previous Saturday, with one side having to sit out each week in the 11-team Central Second Division.

So tomorrow’s game will be the Port’s last league fixture for at least three weeks, and with their rivals in the top half of the table not having the same problem, a win at Royal Albert is doubly important to keep Brown’s men amongst the chasing pack.

He said: “It’s crucial that we get the three points tomorrow, otherwise we could be playing catch-up when we get back to league action.

“As for the cup draw, it’s a tough one, and not ideal with the amount of travel involved. But it’s certainly a winnable tie if we play to our ability.” Kick-off for Royal Albert v Port Glasgow at Tilework Park, Stonehouse, is at 2pm.

Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and MAC HSL Ltd.