Saturday Dec 08 2007 11:30
The FA has rejected Huddersfield Town's appeal against goalkeeper Matt Glennon's red card at Southend United on Wednesday.
The ruling means Town will field Alex Smithies in goal for Saturday's Yorkshire derby at Leeds United, and it will be the 17-year-old's first start in professional football.
The one-match ban has been upheld by the FA's disciplinary committee for the 'denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity' despite the best efforts of Southend's Leon Clarke - the man Glennon brought down.
Clarke wrote a letter to the FA confirming that he slipped and that the Town goalkeeper made no contact with him.
Terriers manager Andy Ritchie told the club's official website: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the outcome as you'd expect.
"I'm also really disappointed for Matty. His previous disciplinary record speaks for itself. Now he's missing out on one our biggest games.
"But it's a great chance for Alex Smithies, I'm sure he'll do well."
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