WANDERERS have failed in their attempt to overturn the red card issued to Josh Earl at Accrington Stanley.

The defender will now serve a one-match ban, which will see him miss the League One home match with AFC Wimbledon.

Referee Anthony Backhouse sent Earl off in the 14th minute of Saturday’s game for ‘pulling back’ Stanley midfielder Dion Charles, deeming that he had denied a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Under FA rules, he was also able to give a penalty as Earl did not make a decisive challenge for the ball.

Wanderers had claimed in their appeal that there was not substantial enough contact to warrant the foul and that Jason Lowe had been a covering defender.

Earl became the first Bolton player given their marching orders since March, when both David Wheater and Craig Noone were red-carded at Swansea City.