Chris Herd wins red card appeal

Aston Villa's Chris Herd has had the red card he received during Saturday's match with West Bromwich Albion rescinded.

The midfielder was handed his marching orders by referee Phil Dowd following a collision with Albion centre-back Jonas Olsson at Villa Park.

During a post-match interview Villa boss Alex McLeish revealed that he was "baffled" by the decision and went on to confirm yesterday that the club had lodged an appeal with the Football Association.

As a result of the decision, Herd will no longer face a three-match ban.

"I'm very happy with the decision and I feel vindicated because I was convinced all along I had done nothing wrong," Herd told the club's official website.

"My foot was being held by a West Brom player and I was just trying to free it from his grasp. I'm grateful and glad that the appeal committee reached the right decision."

Villa went on to lose the match to the Baggies 2-1.