ROVERS striker Dominic Samuel will serve a three match ban following his red card for violent conduct in Saturday’s win over Portsmouth.

Samuel was sent off in the closing stages of the win at Ewood Park for kicking out at Pompey defender Christian Burgess.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray had no complaints over the decision, saying he couldn’t defend the action of the 23-year-old, but felt referee Christopher Kavanagh could have intervened sooner after the pair grappled before Samuel’s kick out.

Samuel, Rovers’ top scorer with five goals, will miss this weekend’s trip to second-placed Wigan and the home game with Fleetwood next Tuesday.  The final game of his ban will be the FA Cup tie with Barnet on November 4.

Mowbray has admitted Samuel’s suspension could open the door for Joe Nuttall, who has 13 goals already this season, to be promoted to the first-team set up, with Danny Graham and Marcus Antonsson also battling it out for the striking spot.