The FA have rejected Middlesbrough's appeal against the red card awarded to Jeremie Aliadiere in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.

The former Arsenal forward has been slapped with a four match ban for the incident - the mandatory three games for violent conduct and an extra penalty for a what the FA deemed a "frivolous" appeal.

"At a regulatory commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Middlesbrough's Jeremie Aliadiere was rejected," the FA said on their website.

"The commission decided that the claim was frivolous and increased Aliadiere's suspension from three matches to four matches as a result with immediate effect.

"Aliadiere was shown a red card for violent conduct following an incident during the second half of Middlesbrough's match against Liverpool on 23 February."

The French striker will now miss the FA Cup fifth round replay at home to Championship side Sheffield United, plus Premier League matches against reading, Aston Villa and Arsenal.

The French forward was sent off at Anfield for slapping Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano just as Boro had got back into the game at 3-2.

Manager Gareth Southgate bemoaned the timing of the 24-year-old's sending off but refused to criticise Aliadiere.

The former England defender told the club website: "I only want to talk about my player, and if you raise your hands away from home with a young referee there is not much alternative.

"The most annoying thing is we had a bit of momentum; we'd just scored the second goal and were back in it.

"At 3-2, they were having a bit of a wobbler and we might have gone on to snatch an equaliser.

"But I'm not going to crucify Jeremie. He's been fantastic all season, and it's a lesson he has got to learn from.

"The harshest thing for him is he is going to miss three games - and with the strikers we've got now, he is going to have to sit out and work his way back into the side."

Southgate also urged Middlesbrough to take heart from their performance at Anfield - rather than dwelling on the mistakes which contributed to their defeat.

Southgate believes, however, there saw plenty of encouragement for the future in that Barclays Premier League fixture - as long as the Teesside club can eradicate unforced errors.

"We made mistakes all across the field," said Southgate. "A couple have been punished with goals - and another has been punished with a sending-off.

"But others have made mistakes and got away with it - and we win or lose as a team.

"Of course, the players who have made the mistakes will feel worse. But I don't operate a blame culture at my club; we encourage people to play and try things - and sometimes mistakes are going to happen.

"When you come to a place like Liverpool and you lose, you hope it is their quality that has won them the game - and in the end it was our mistakes.

"But the important thing is we stick together as a team right through the season."

Sporting Life / Eurosport