DUNFERMLINE will have Lee Ashcroft available for tonight's Premiership play-off quarter-final after lodging an appeal against his first leg red card.

The 24-year-old was ordered off by referee Bobby Madden in the 55th minute of Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Dundee United after a tangle with Scott McDonald.

After the game, Pars boss Allan Johnston said he hopes "common sense prevails" after confirming plans to appeal the decision.

He insisted Madden made a "poor decision" in sending Ashcroft off and they have now put their case to have it overturned forward to SFA disciplinary bosses.

A hearing will take place next week, meaning he is free to take his place in the squad for the trip to Tannadice, and Johnston said: "I have seen it again on the video and it's never a sending off, so we are going to appeal it. Hopefully the referee has a look at it as well and realises it is a poor decision.

"I think it was (given) for a goalscoring opportunity. I don't know how it was a goalscoring opportunity to be fair; Lee got his body in the way and Scott McDonald has fallen down.

"The referee has been conned a bit and it is a decision that has cost us dear. I just hope a bit of common sense prevails, they have a look at it and realise that it is a mistake.

"But the boys are confident going into the next game. We know United is a hard place to go and we are going to have to be at our very best, but we are more than capable of going there and getting a result.

"It was a really good performance, we created chances and we were unlucky not to score."

Johnston is set to receive a further boost in the shape of Ryan Williamson, who is fit to play despite hobbling off in the latter stages of the first tie.

United boss Csaba Laszlo claimed afterwards that Dunfermline are favourites heading into the second leg, but Johnston believes the pressure is all on the Tangerines and that his players can use that to their advantage.

"It gives us a massive opportunity and I think the pressure is on United, especially up there with their fans," he continued.

"I am sure that they would not be happy with that (on Tuesday) so we just need to make sure we go there and put in another really good performance.

"I'm sure we'll have a big backing again and you see the fans got right behind the players, so I'm sure that they will put in another great effort on Friday.

"Teams struggle to score goals against us; that was them with an extra man for a long period but we still looked threatening, so we are looking forward to the next one."

Johnston confirmed that Andy Ryan will miss out after going off with a hamstring problem on Tuesday night, but defender Jean-Yves M'Voto is in contention after an ankle injury.

Tom Beadling is also edging closer to a return having been sidelined since last month's win at Falkirk.

Meanwhile Athletic have sold out of pre-sale tickets for the match but supporters will be able to pay at the gate.

Dunfermline's initial allocation of 1,850 for the West (Shed) Stand has been snapped up, but a cash gate for the Jim McLean Fair Play Stand will be available.