UPDATED: Defender Clarke Carlisle WILL miss Burnley’s next three games after the Clarets lost their appeal against his red card at Millwall.

The 31-year-old had hoped to escape a ban after the club contested referee Keith Stroud’s decision to send him off for a challenge on Theo Robinson just seven minutes into Saturday’s 1-1 draw at The Den.

After reviewing footage of the incident, Burnley manager Brian Laws felt the on-loan striker had not been endangered and deemed the dismissal “very, very harsh”.

However, the FA commission have upheld Stroud’s initial verdict, meaning Carlisle will miss the trip to Sheffield United on October 16 and the following visits of Barnsley and Reading.

The former Blackpool, QPR, Leeds and Watford defender, who now has nine career red cards, has, though, avoided incurring an extra one-match ban because the appeal was not adjudged to be ‘frivolous’.

Nevertheless, Burnley boss Laws said: “We are disappointed with the outcome.

“We felt the decision was harsh but we have to accept the verdict and move on.

“We again showed on Saturday the strength we have within the squad and I know that whoever benefits from Clarke’s absence will come in and do a good job for us when we start again after the international break.”

Northern Ireland international Michael Duff is expected to reclaim his place in the side, after losing it to Carlisle on the opening day of the through injury.

The 32-year-old made his first appearance since limping out of that 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a calf injury when Laws shuffled his 10-man pack to fill the void left by Carlisle’s dismissal.

Duff replaced midfield Dean Marney to be reunited with Andre Bikey in the back four for the first time since August, before Cameroon international Bikey himself was withdrawn through injury just a few minutes later.

Bikey, who is on international duty this week with the Indomitable Lions for Saturday’s 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo, is expected to be fit for Burnley’s next game at Bramall Lane.