Boss Johnston says Dunfermline will appeal Ashcroft’s red card
The Pars held played more than half an hour with 10 men after Ashcroft was adjudged to have held back Scott McDonald when through on goal.
Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston has said the club will be appealing the red card shown to Lee Ashcroft during the goalless play-off draw with Dundee United.
The Pars held on to claim a 0-0 draw at home to the Tangerines despite having played more than half an hour with 10 men after Ashcroft was adjudged to have held back Scott McDonald when through on goal.
Both goalkeepers were on top form to keep the game goalless - with Deniz Mehmet and Lee Robinson producing a string of spectacular saves.
However, Dunfermline had been on top prior to the decision from referee Bobby Madden and it left Johnston fuming at full-time. He now hopes to have the defender free for the second leg of the tie on Friday.
"I thought it was a really good performance,'' the Pars boss said. "We created chances and were unlucky not to score.
"The sending off changed the game. It was never a sending off. I've seen the video and we will appeal it. Hopefully the referee realises it was a poor decision.
"I think it was a 'goalscoring opportunity' (that Ashcroft was sent off for). I don't know how its a goalscoring opportunity but Lee Ashcroft has his body in the way and Scott McDonald fell down. He's been conned a bit the referee, and it has cost us the game.
"We will be appealing that. We hope a bit of common sense prevails as well and they realise it was a mistake.''
The tie remains finely balanced ahead of a potential meeting with Livingston in the Premiership play-off semi-final, but Tangerines boss Csaba Laszlo maintains Dunfermline will be favourites for the return tie in Dundee on Friday night.
He said: "After the red card I thought we should have scored, but Deniz Mehmet in goal had a good performance, so at the end of the day the draw was the fair result."
When asked if his side were favourites, he said: "No. if you go to Tannadice you have to score twice, especially if you concede. I still think Dunfermline is the favourites.
"I think the Dunfermline goalkeeper had some good saves too At Tannadice on Friday evening it will once again be a difficult game.'