Stoke City defender Andy Griffin is 'gutted' his appeal against a red card failed.
Stoke City defender Andy Griffin is 'gutted' his appeal against a red card failed, but will use his enforced absence to rest a thigh injury.
Griffin was sent off towards the end of last week's 1-0 defeat at Norwich City following a challenge on Youssef Safri.
The Potters appealed the dismissal, but were unsuccessful and Griffin must now serve a three-match suspension.
"I'm gutted, I have spoken to all of the lads and none of them believed it was a sending off," Griffin told the club's official website.
"I didn't go in two footed, I had no intention of getting him and it wasn't a malicious challenge.
"I think a bit more common sense needs to be shown at times because you see similar tackles on TV all the time and they get yellow cards and sometimes nothing at all, I think they need to show a bit more consistency."
The full-back will now miss Championship games against Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, with Griffin using the break to rest a nagging injury.
He added: "I have had a thigh injury for a few weeks now and to be honest I could do with resting it, so in one way it's quite positive.
"The lads will cope without me I am sure and there is no reason why they can't win the three games, confidence is still sky high at the moment and we are still aiming for the top six."
