Aston Villa defender Zat Knight has lost his appeal against his red card in the Boxing Day meeting with Chelsea.

Knight was sent off when he was adjudged to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity by fouling Michael Ballack in first-half stoppage time of the 4-4 draw.

He now faces a one-match ban and will miss Saturday's game against Wigan.

Manager Martin O'Neill told the Villa website: "We are obviously disappointed because we felt we had a case. But we abide by the decision and prepare for tomorrow's important game at Wigan without him."

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