Birmingham City will be without Harlee Dean for the next three games after the club lost his appeal for wrongful dismissal following his red card against Cardiff.

The centre-back was sent off late on in the 4-2 defeat on Saturday for an elbow on Joe Ralls but Blues felt the decision by referee Andrew Madley was harsh.

Therefore, the club lodged an appeal but Birmingham Live have revealed that they have lost that on the basis that it wasn't a clear and obvious error from the referee.

As a result, Pep Clotet will have to do without his skipper for the next three games - starting with Saturday's fixture against Fulham at St. Andrew's.

The former Brentford man will then miss away trips to Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday following the international break and won't be available until the home game against Millwall on November 30.

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In Dean's absence, Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter is expected to step up into the heart of the defence - as he did when Marc Roberts missed the defeat to Wigan last month.

The verdict

This is a blow but the reality is that you wouldn't have expected the FA to overturn such a decision as it wasn't a major blunder even if it was slightly harsh.

Losing Dean is a massive blow for Clotet as he is an experienced figure and his partnership with Roberts has been solid on the whole.

But, these things happen in football and it's now down to those on the fringes to step up - with Clarke-Salter likely to get a chance.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.