JEFFERSON Lerma will serve a four-match suspension following his red card against Birmingham City on Wednesday night.

The Colombian was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Onel Hernandez during the second half.

Cherries went on to win the game 3-1.

The club confirmed they did appeal against the decision, but the FA upheld referee James Linington's decision.

It is Lerma's second red card of this season, having also been given his marching orders in a home game against Coventry City in November.

The midfielder was due to serve a one-game ban for that professional foul, but following Cherries' appeal, he was slapped with an additional two-match suspension.

Lerma, who has also been booked five times this season, started the season with a six-game ban for a biting offence carried over from the 2020-21 campaign.

He receives a standard three-game ban for the serious foul play offence against Birmingham, with an additional match added on top due to it being his second red card of this season, as is protocol.

As a result, Lerma will be unavailable to face Blackpool tomorrow.

He will also miss matches against Nottingham Forest, Swansea City and Stoke City.

The 27-year-old will next be available for the trip to Preston North End on March 5.

Discussing the red card after the game on Wednesday, boss Scott Parker said: "I was amazed that he sent him off for the tackle. At first I thought something had happened, because there was a big melee, so I thought maybe there was a fight or something has gone on and that’s why he had given the red.

"But the fourth (official) told me he’d given the red for foul play. I’ve seen it back and I was just amazed that he obviously sent him off for that. But he decided to do that. We’ll probably go and appeal that now."

He added: "It’s Jefferson Lerma, that’s the way he plays a little bit. So I do get that.

"But also in comparison to some of the tackles they did, I just didn’t see it as a real reckless challenge.

"This is a contact sport. At times, it’s just what happens. I just didn’t see it how the referee has seen it, to be honest with you. So we’ll see."