Burton Albion have decided to appeal the red card handed to Hope Akpan in Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough - with the club hoping to have the midfielder eligible to face Birmingham City on Friday night.

Hope Akpan was a summer signing on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers
Hope Akpan was a summer signing on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers

The former Blackburn Rovers man - one of seven new faces brought in over the summer - was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Boro forward Lewis Baker in the 78th minute, just 13 minutes after coming on as a subsitute for Luke Murphy.

It's the Brewers' second red card in as many games following Jackson Irvine's dismissal against Hull City on Saturday - and now the former Everton man faces a three-game suspension should his appeal be ruled unsuccessful.

Hope Akpan leaves the field after being sent off against Middlesbrough

In a statement released on the club's website, the Brewers said: "Having looked at the video, the club has decided to ask for the red card to be overturned and hope to have a decision before Friday’s home game against Birmingham."