Cole loses red card appeal

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole today lost his appeal for wrongful dismissal against Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old was dismissed for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the final seconds of Wednesday’s 4-4 Barclays Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge when he was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line.

He will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect, ruling him out of tomorrow’s home game with Newcastle.