MIDFIELDER Harry Arter felt he had been on the wrong end of a “really harsh” refereeing decision during Cherries’ Boxing Day triumph over Yeovil.

Arter collected his fifth booking of the season and triggered an automatic one-match ban following a tackle on Joe Ralls midway through the second half at Dean Court.

The 23-year-old, who had been walking a disciplinary tightrope since picking up his fourth yellow card at Burnley last month, will serve his suspension against Ipswich on Sunday.

Arter, one of five players booked by referee Craig Pawson, had been hoping to reach the New Year’s Eve amnesty when suspensions no longer apply for five cautions.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was disappointed and felt it was really harsh. It was my first tackle of the game and I had been working so hard to get to December 31 without getting another booking. But there is nothing I can do about it, other than just prepare for the Brighton game.”

Arter, who has been booked 38 times and sent off once in 121 appearances, has missed eight games through suspension since joining Cherries from Woking in 2010. He was substituted soon after the incident and replaced by Shaun MacDonald.

Boss Eddie Howe said: “It was the one disappointment really. He had been on a tightrope for a number of weeks and we had been trying to keep him free from suspension. I think this is the fewest number of bookings he has had so he is definitely moving in the right direction.

“I thought it was a tough call. I thought it was a genuine tackle but the referee saw it differently. From that moment, Harry probably needed to be taken off for his own protection.”