MARK Creighton, who is available again after suspension for Oxford United this weekend, insists he’s not a dirty player.

‘The Beast’, as he is affectionately known by the fans, was sent off at Bradford last Saturday for two yellow cards.

But while he admits he deserved to be booked for the second challenge, he says the first one was ridiculously harsh.

Creighton, who pens a column for the Oxford Mail each Friday, said: “I don’t think the first card was fair at all.

“I’ve never been booked for a clash of heads in my life before.

“The second one was more out of frustration than anything else, and I hold my hand up to that. I shouldn’t even have gone for it.

“It’s always difficult when you get a yellow card early on, it puts you in danger.

“But defenders need to make tackles, and that’s my game. I’m competitive and strong in the tackle, but I’m not a dirty player and there was no malice.

“I think that was only the third time in my career that I’ve been sent off, and the previous two were when I was the last man.”

Creighton served his one-match suspension in the home midweek defeat against Torquay – and so is available again for Sunday’s FA Cup first-round tie at Burton Albion.

“I played in the reserves at Northampton on Wednesday and hope to be back involved on Sunday,” he said.