PARS midfielder Dean Shiels is set for a suspension after an appeal against his red card on Saturday was rejected.

The Northern Ireland international was sent packing in the final seconds of the Irn-Bru Cup exit to Falkirk after a late tackle on Joe McKee.

Although there was no argument from Shiels or his team-mates as he headed straight down the tunnel, Athletic appealed the decision but Allan Johnston revealed that it has been unsuccessful.

The Dunfermline boss, who told the media after the game that there "was maybe poor remarks getting made to Deano" but added that "he shouldn't react no matter what is being said to him", said yesterday: "We appealed the red card but I don’t think it was successful. It was heard this morning; I just know that he never won the appeal.

"I think it was more of a slip - he went in really fast and it looks bad when you see it in real-time. When you actually slow it down, you can see he’s slipped and that’s why it’s looked worse that it was. But he was nowhere near the player when he goes in for the challenge and I don’t think he was ever endangering the opponent and that is what a sending off is for.

"He has slipped a wee bit and his knee gets bent behind and his ankle goes back as well so he’s lucky he never injured himself - typical striker trying to close down. I’m sure he’ll learn from that and move on."

Dunfermline travel to Queen of the South tomorrow looking to bounce back from two successive defeats in league and cup competition.

Johnston will also be without the injured Joe Cardle and Michael Paton, but Jean Yves-M'Voto is fit.

The Pars will also welcome back Fraser Aird, Callum Smith, Callum Morris and Ryan Williamson from international duty.