DEVASTATED Billy Paynter fears being left out in the County Ground cold again as his impressive first team run seems certain to be brought to an abrupt halt, writes ANDY CRYER.

The Town striker had just established himself again as the number one striker when Saturday's harsh red card for an alleged elbow left him facing a three-match ban.

Paynter is still hoping the management will appeal, after viewing video replays, but the chances of referee Karl Evans changing his mind seem unlikely.

The former Port Vale man saw red with 15 minutes remaining after clashing with Crewe's Michael O'Connor and he insists the referee made the wrong decision.

He said: "There was no intent at all. Two players have gone for the ball and if I have caught him surely I would have felt it?

"If I did catch him I apologise but I am not the kind of player that throws elbows and looks to hurt people.

"I think the referee reacted to the fans and a couple of their players. It was a delayed reaction from him to give the decision and I thought he was going to play on.

"The next thing I know he has blown up. A couple of our players have said that was not a foul and the next minute the red card goes up.

"He kept talking to me. He said I caught the centre half in the first half when I have won the ball. But he did not give me much at times when the centre half went through the back of me. I think he was reacting to the fans."

After five goals in his first six appearances, a lack of confidence, combined with Barry Corr's return from injury, kept Paynter on the subs bench for a lengthy spell.

Corr's New Year's Day dismissal gave him a fresh chance, but suspension could hand the initiative back to his fellow strikers.

He said: "I have just got back into the team and enjoyed a run of games, to miss three would be terrible.

"It would be devastating for me because I want to be playing football and helping Swindon climb up the table.

"I want to help Swindon into the play-offs and get as far as we can. Obviously a suspension would put me at the back of the queue again.

"But we will watch the video and see what the referee says. Hopefully he slips up in his report."

Skipper Hasney Aljofree was sympathetic, saying: "I think if the ref would have booked Billy earlier on, he probably would not have gone up for that challenge.

"But he is an honest lad and has never, ever, been that type of player.

"I don't know, maybe the ref had it in the back of his mind that he saw something earlier on and I am sorry for Billy but there are more centre forwards at the club.

"This is their chance to stake a claim. He has been doing really well and we will miss him."

Despite being sent from the arena, Paynter did manage to sneak back to the pitch to see Town battle out the closing stages of Saturday's 0-0 draw.

He said: As soon as I went down the tunnel I phoned my mates and my dad in the stands.

"They said Peter (Brezovan) made some good saves, so I snuck out of the tunnel and was talking to the security guard while watching the game."