Shrewsbury Town's Joseph Mills to sit out crunch clashes as appeal fails

The Burnley left-back has impressed since coming on board from Turf Moor but will now miss the next three crucial games against relegation rivals Stevenage, Tranmere and Crewe owing to suspension.

Town, who dropped to the bottom of League One after Stevenage collected a point from a 0-0 draw with Wolves last night, lodged an appeal backed up by video evidence in an attempt to get the decision of Yorkshire referee Robert Madley overturned.

The club believed they had a strong case after Mills was dismissed just past the hour mark of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Walsall following a challenge on James Chambers.

Jackson said: "I'm disappointed as I thought we had a very good case to challenge the decision especially after consulting the people that we did and with the work everyone put in.

"I don't think it was a sending off and it's another example of a wrong decision which we are being punished for."

Former Southampton and Reading man Mills has replaced Joe Jacobson at left-back in recent weeks, also playing left wing-back on occasions.

Consistent

But his enforced absence means Jacobson now has the chance to re-establish himself in his preferred role.

Jacobson had been one of Town's most consistent performers this season until picking up an injury during the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United early in February.

He has since been in and out of the side with his most recent starts coming as a third central defender alongside Tamika Mkandwaire and Connor Goldson.

Jackson, who held a question and answer session with Town supporters last night, added: "We move on and with Joe Jacobson we have someone who can play that position, but I'm disappointed for Joseph as I feel he has been playing well recently."