MIDDLESBROUGH have won their appeal against Daniel Ayala's dismissal in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Preston.

As a result, Ayala will not now have to complete a suspension, and will be available for tomorrow's game at Aston Villa.

Ayala was dismissed in the second half of Wednesday’s Riverside reverse for a foul on Brandon Barker, but Boro boss Tony Pulis claimed immediately after the game that referee Keith Stroud “gambled” on the decision because he was so far away when the incident occurred.

An independent FA panel have now overturned Stroud's decision, and an FA statement said: "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, Daniel Ayala will be available for Middlesbrough’s next three matches.

"The defender was sent off for serious foul play during the game against Preston North End on Wednesday (13/03/2019) but a claim of wrongful dismissal was subsequently upheld."

Speaking earlier today, Pulis said: "I can’t see how the referee can make that decision from where he is because there’s three bodies because him and the challenge. I find it very difficult that he can make a decision from that far away, with so many bodies in between him and the ball.

“We’ve watched it in slow motion, and it is very difficult to take that someone can say one way or the other what has happened. I think Dani plays the ball first, and his feet are not off the ground. He definitely plays the ball.”