Preston North End FC

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• Manager:Phil Brown

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Williamson must serve ban

29 Apr 2009 - 11:30:22

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Preston North End have failed with an appeal to overturn the red card shown to midfielder Lee Williamson during Saturday's 2-1 win at Birmingham City.

Williamson was sent off following a tussle with City's Lee Bowyer, but neither player saw their punishments rescinded at a hearing on Tuesday.

The midfielder will now suspended for violent conduct for three matches, meaning he will definitely miss the last match of the season at home to QPR on Sunday and potentially two play-off encounters should North End secure a top-six finish.

On Tuesday, manager Alan Irvine was hopeful of winning the appeal, saying: "We believe no violent conduct has been shown by Lee Williamson.

"I've spoken to Keith Hackett and David Allison at the PGMOL (the referees management group) and they believe that we have reasonable grounds for appeal.

"I also spoke to referee Phil Dowd after the match and he agreed to take a look at the incident again."