ST MIRREN manager Gus MacPherson has appealed David van Zanten's booking from the weekend.

The Love Street full-back was shown a yellow card by referee Charlie Richmond for an off-the-ball tussle he wasn't even involved in.

Van Zanten pleaded his innocence at the time as it was team-mates Paul Lawson and John Potter who were involved in the flare-up with Dunfermline striker Jim Hamilton.

Now Saints hope video evidence will allow them to have the booking wiped from the player's record. Most yellow cards can't be appealed, but if it's a case of mistaken identity then a club is entitled to appeal.

MacPherson said: "To be fair to the referee, he was acting after instructions from the far side linesman.

"I actually asked the linesman coming off the pitch if he was sure he had the right player because of David's reaction.

"He said he was and it was our No.2, but you could tell that the player was convinced he hadn't. Once we looked at it on TV it had nothing to do with David - he wasn't involved in the incident at all. So then we decided to appeal and have informed the SFA.

"Hopefully, the yellow card will be rescinded because it's clear that David didn't deserve it."

MacPherson is taking full advantage of a couple of weeks without a match by taking his players away to Spain for a break.

But he insists they'll be working hard and said: "It's not a holiday. It's just a chance for us to train in better facilities for a week.

"Our next game is almost three weeks away and it's a long time to remain at home training every day without having a match to prepare for. This way I'll get the best out of everyone."