Hearts’ Ryan Stevenson to serve ban of three games

RYAN STEVENSON will serve a three-match ban after Hearts decided not to appeal against his sending off in Saturday’s defeat to Dundee United.

The Tynecastle club had been expected by many to challenge Stevenson’s red card, which was handed out by referee 
Willie Collum for a first-half challenge on United’s Gary 
Mackay-Steven at Tannadice.

The 28-year-old was sent off when Collum ruled he had gone into the tackle with his studs up, although the decision looked a harsh one at the time and later on television replays.

Just last month, Stevenson was given a two-match suspension retrospectively by the SFA following a tackle on Hibs captain James McPake which had gone unpunished by Collum in the New Year derby.

The news that Hearts are not going to appeal will come as a blow to manager John 
McGlynn, whose options are already limited.

Stevenson will miss the home games against Kilmarnock and Inverness and also the trip to face St Mirren in Paisley, while skipper Marius Zaliukas is a doubt after suffering an ankle injury at Tannadice.