March 9 2004

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have failed to get Mark Hudson's red card against Gillingham overturned.

Hudson, currently on loan from Fulham, will now sit out Saturday's visit to Nottingham Forest through suspension.

He was sent off for a professional foul on Gills' Mamady Sidibe in the penalty box last week. Luckily for Palace, Gillingham missed the twice-taken penalty and the 10 men held out for a 1-0 win.

But Hudson told Palace World: "I made no attempt to challenge Sidibe. I was just running alongside him and then he kicked the back of my leg and fell over. Then I fell over him.

"It was a very harsh decision. I'm very disappointed that our appeal has been turned down. Iain had taken a look at it and felt it was right to appeal but they came back really quickly and said no."