THE FA'S video advisory panel will decide whether Newcastle United defender Andy O'Brien has grounds for an appeal against his sending-off in Sunday's 5-0 drubbing at Chelsea.

It was confirmed yesterday that United have appealed after referee Paul Durkin dismissed the Republic of Ireland centre-back for pulling down striker Adrian Mutu.

From the resulting penalty, Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a 3-0 half-time lead.

But United manager Sir Bobby Robson was angry about the decision after TV replays showed there was minimal contact, which also took place outside the penalty area.

A Newcastle spokesman said yesterday: "I can confirm that, having looked at the video, we have submitted an appeal.''

An FA spokesman added: "Newcastle have lodged an appeal regarding the dismissal of Andy O'Brien. The evidence will be looked at by the video advisory panel, who will decide if there is a case to answered.''

If the appeal fails, O'Brien will be banned for the game at Wolves a fortnight on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has laid it on the line to Craig Bellamy in crunch talks over the striker's club-v-country injury saga. The Welshman is recovering from knee surgery after returning injured again from international duty.

Shepherd said: "What was said was private and will remain so, and the matter is now closed."

Bellamy's agent, Steve Horner, also attended the meeting but refused to comment.

Leading specialist Richard Steadman performed a second operation on Bellamy three weeks ago after he reported back from Wales' Euro 2004 qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro with a recurrence of tendinitis in his left knee. Bellamy underwent surgery for the same condition in his right knee at Dr Steadman's Colorado clinic in May last year.

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