Leyton Orient will not be appealing Joe Widdowson’s red card against Hartlepool United on Saturday.

The left-back was dismissed with half an hour remaining at the Breyer Group Stadium following a tackle on Hartlepool’s Michael Woods.

Head coach Justin Edinburgh was incensed after the final whistle and described referee Adrian Quelch’s decision to send Widdowson off as ‘completely wrong.’

Replays appeared to back up Edinburgh’s viewpoint after Widdowson looked to have won the ball before catching Woods and his studs weren’t showing either.

But the O’s have now decided that they will not appeal the decision meaning Widdowson, who picked up a knock as a result of the tackle, will be suspended for three games, starting with this weekend’s match against Maidstone United in the FA Cup.

Losing the 29-year-old for three games will undoubtedly be a blow for the O’s, as the left-back has been one of Orient’s most consistent performers since Edinburgh became head coach last November.

Widdowson’s suspension now opens the door for Sam Ling, who made his first appearance since August as a second half substitute on Saturday, with the 21-year-old now poised to fill in at left-back.