NEWCASTLE UNITED'S slim hope that the Football Association would show leniency in their treatment of Kieron Dyer was dashed yesterday - a three-game ban meaning the midfielder will miss the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United in 11 days.

Since Saturday's disgraceful scenes at St James' Park, when Dyer and Lee Bowyer were sent off for fighting each other in the game against Aston Villa, the club have insisted Dyer was the victim of Bowyer's aggression.

However, while Bowyer was given a minimum four-game ban which may well be increased by the FA, the Magpies' appeal against Dyer's dismissal fell on deaf ears at Soho Square.

The chances that the red card would be rescinded appeared remote, especially with video evidence showing Dyer throwing a right hand at his team-mate at the end of the unseemly brawl before being hauled away by Stephen Carr.

But Newcastle hoped that the statutory three-game ban for violent conduct may have been reduced to one, meaning the 26-year-old would only miss Sunday's Premiership game at Tottenham.

But yesterday's FA statement read: ''A disciplinary commission has rejected a claim for wrongful dismissal from Newcastle United on behalf of Kieron Dyer.

''As a result, Dyer will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect."

Dyer will also miss the game at Norwich City on April 19 but will be available for the Manchester United away trip seven days after the Cardiff semi-final.

A spokesman for Newcastle Unted said: "The club have noted the decision of an FA Disciplinary Commission in respect of it rejecting a claim for wrongful dismissal from Newcastle United on behalf of Kieron Dyer.

"Newcastle United are very disappointed with the outcome of the appeal, especially so in that the defence submitted by Dyer, considered to be very strong by the club, was dismissed.

"The club unfortunately have no other choice but to accept the decision as there is no right of appeal against the disciplinary committee's decision."

Bowyer received an extended ban because it was his second Premiership red card of the season, and it followed chairman Freddy Shepherd handing him a club record fine of six weeks' wages on Monday - understood to be £200,000 - and a final written warning.

He was charged with violent conduct by the FA and has until April 20 to respond, with a disciplinary commission, who have the powers to further increase the punishment, to sit two days later.

Meanwhile, Dyer has insisted that Saturday's scuffle was not the result of a simmering feud between him and Bowyer.

A number of conspiracy theories have been aired this week, suggesting there is more to the pair's clash than meets the eye.

But Dyer has dismissed speculation of a personal disagreement, claiming the dispute was down to nothing more sinister than frustration at a 3-0 home defeat.

"It was just a silly argument about not passing the ball to him," said the England international. "It was a flare-up out of nothing.

"I know a lot of people have assumed that there must be some sort of history of this sort of thing between us and that we don't like each other.

"People have said there must have been a lot going on behind the scenes, but the truth is that there has never been anything like this between us before.

"I want to clear one other thing up too. There is no question that the fight was sparked by racial abuse from him. That is categorically not the case."

Souness must now decide whether to use either player in tomorrow night's UEFA Cup quarter-final with Sporting Lisbon but, after training alongside his fellow combatant yesterday, Dyer is adamant they can continue to function successfully in the same side.

"He (Bowyer) rang me after the game on Saturday night to say sorry, which was nice," said the midfielder. "I've always got on well with him and I still consider him a friend.

"I really do feel Lee and I can put this behind us. I'm quite happy to be in the same team and the same dressing room as him. I haven't got a problem with that at all."

* Robbie Elliott could be a surprise starter tomorrow night with Newcastle suffering from injuries and unavailability.

Titus Bramble remains sidelined after a hernia operation, Jean-Alain Boumsong is cup tied, Celestine Babayaro only returned to training yesterday after knee problems, while Andy O'Brien is suffering a crisis of confidence.

Elliott has not played first team football since Boxing Day due to his own knee injury, but is ready to answer any call from Souness.

He said: "'I'd be lying if I said I hadn't looked at the fixture list in the hope of getting back into the side. These are the type of games you want to be involved in and hopefully I will be fit and ready."

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