CITY made an unsuccessful appeal to have Neill Byrne’s Morecambe red card overturned.

Graham Alexander was fuming at the time when Byrne was sent off after an altercation with Jordan Slew, who ended up in the advertising boards.

Alexander revealed the club put their case to the FA against the defender’s three-match suspension – but it was rejected last night.

“It was thrown out and he’s got a three-game ban,” admitted Alexander.

“I find that crazy considering the footage we’ve seen, the footage of the lad laughing about it in his interview.

“I thought we had grounds for it to be rescinded or the ban reduced a game or two.

“But unfortunately we’ve lost Byrner for three league games, although he can play against Stockport (in the Vertu Trophy) next week.”

Byrne sat out tonight's 1-1 draw with Barrow and will also miss Saturday's trip to Crewe and the Swindon home game on December 14.