Nottingham Forest have lost their appeal against David Vaughan's dismissal during their match with Birmingham City on Tuesday night.
Vaughan was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge in the 74th minute of their Championship encounter, raising his foot too high for the referee's liking while Birmingham's Clayton Donaldson went for the ball with his head.
Forest manager Dougie Freedman was unhappy with the decision after the match, but he will now be without the 32-year-old for three matches after the appeal was rejected.
Vaughan, whose ban could have been increased had the appeal been deemed frivolous, will miss matches against Bolton Wanderers, Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers.
The midfielder's first match back after his ban will be against Watford in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the end of January.
