MIDDLESBROUGH'S worst fears were last night confirmed when the FA informed them that skipper Paul Ince had lost his appeal against his sending-off in the derby clash with Sunderland.

Referee Mark Halsey dismissed Ince for violent conduct after he pushed striker Niall Quinn in the face in Boro's 2-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium nine days ago.

Boro were unhappy and appealed, but FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The appeal has been reviewed by the independent video advisory panel.

"The panel have taken the decision to unanimously support Mark Halsey's decision to send off Paul Ince and therefore the decision stands. The player will begin a three-match suspension, commencing with the fixture at Aston Villa on Saturday, November 17.''

Former England captain Ince will also miss the visit of Ipswich the following week, as well as the December 1 trip to Blackburn.

The writing was on the wall for Ince when referee Dermot Gallagher was dropped from the Premiership list on Monday for his failure to send off Leeds striker Robbie Keane for a push on Manchester United's David Beckham in the weekend clash at Old Trafford.

Keane's offence bore similarities to that committed by Ince.

Meanwhile, Boro defender Steve Vickers, set to seal a £500,000 move to Crystal Palace, last night admitted: "It's nice to be wanted.''

Vickers, who spent a successful month on loan at Selhurst Park, is close to finalising personal terms with Palace and hopes the deal will go through before the First Division promotion chasers visit Walsall on Saturday.

But Bishop Auckland-born Vickers, a veteran of more than 300 senior Boro games, has again stressed his disappointment over the way he has been squeezed out of the first-team picture by manager Steve McClaren. "I would like to have stayed, but that's not the way it's going to be,'' said Vickers, who was signed by Lennie Lawrence from Tranmere for £750,000 in November 1993.

McClaren has picked Vickers only twice since he took over from Bryan Robson this summer, and the 34-year-old centre-back emphasised: "The manager has made it clear he doesn't want me.

"I enjoyed my month with Palace; it worked out OK even with the travelling involved. The important thing for me is that I've been playing football. I'm just in limbo at the moment, back training with Middlesbrough, after the loan finished last Tuesday.

"The ball is in Palace's court now. The fee has been agreed and it's basically just a case of agreeing personal terms. I've been impressed with Steve Bruce, all his staff, the players and the set-up there. It's nice to be wanted, to add that bit of experience. They've got a good, young team and the talent to mount a challenge, and it would be nice to be part of it.''

* Australian sides Northern Spirit and Olympic Sharks have offered temporary terms to out-of-favour Boro midfielder Paul Okon to help him gain vital match practice ahead of the Socceroos' World Cup play-offs next month

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