Watford fail with appeal against Troy Deeney's four-match ban

Watford striker Troy Deeney will serve a four-match suspension after his appeal against the red card picked up against Huddersfield Town was rejected.

The 29-year-old was given his marching orders by referee Michael Oliver during the first half of the Hornets' 4-1 defeat on Saturday afternoon for a lunge on Collin Quaner.

Watford felt that the decision was harsh and had hoped to see the red card rescinded when reviewed by a three-man panel on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement released via Twitter, however, Watford announced that they were unsuccessful and will now be without their skipper for games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City, Swansea City and Manchester City over the festive period.

"#watfordfc has learned from The Football Association that its appeal lodged against Troy Deeney's red card on Saturday (Dec 16 v Huddersfield Town) has been unsuccessful," the statement read. "Troy will therefore serve a four-match ban covering the games Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 30 & Jan 2."

Deeney was previously handed a three-match ban by the Football Association earlier in the campaign after retrospective action was taken for his facial gouge on Joe Allen.