Middlesbrough will have Daniel Ayala available for Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa, with the club successful in appealing the defender’s red-card.  

Ayala was dismissed in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Preston North End for a lunging challenge on the edge of Boro’s area.

That led to the red-card, but Boro have now confirmed that it has been overturned and Ayala has avoided a four-match suspension.

Whilst that’s obviously good for a stuttering Boro side in the coming weeks, many feel it is frustrating given the dropped points against Preston.

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Boro had led thanks to Ashley Fletcher’s goal, but Paul Gallagher’s free-kick from Ayala’s foul pulled Preston level, with Jayden Stockley then winning the game with a header.

Despite Boro winning the appeal and having Ayala available for the coming weeks, they were quick to make the point that Boro wouldn’t have lost a game they were comfortable in without losing their defender…