Scunthorpe United will not appeal Oliver Norwood's red card at Notts County, Alan Knill revealed this morning.

Despite being 'saddened' by the midfielder's game-changing sending off at Meadow Lane, the Iron boss confirmed the club would not go through a process he describes as a 'waste of time'.

It means Norwood, on-loan at Glanford Park from Manchester United until early January, will not be available until the home game with Chesterfield on New Year's Eve.

"I'm still of the same opinion that it's a great tackle," said Knill after watching the replay of the 20-year-old's 57th minute challenge on Jeff Hughes.

"It's frustrating for Oli. He is a really good footballer, but we've said to him that the other part of the game he has to work on is stopping other people from playing.

"If he can do both, there's a real player in there.

"He's getting there, and improving, but then he makes a tackle like Saturday and the referee gives him a three-game ban.

"I couldn't think of the word on Saturday, but the game has been sanitised of aggression.

"Especially in those middle of the park areas, players can't be what they are any more.

"I like to see tackles. I like to see people being aggressive.

"We've had the report which says the red card was for 'excessive force'. Shouldn't every tackle be with excessive force if you want people to be aggressive?

"It's different if he goes over the top of the ball, but he doesn't.

"That's the thing that saddened me most about it.

"I believe the referee has made an honest decision. In his mind that's a straight red, but a straight red to me should have everyone saying 'there's no doubt about that'."

Knill suggested Scunthorpe's faith in the Football Association's Disciplinary Committee had been tainted by the decision taken on an appeal earlier in the season.

The Iron contested Andy Barcham's sending off during the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in September, but the three-match suspension was upheld, much to their frustration.

"How Barcham's was ever a straight red and a three-game ban is beyond belief," Knill added.

"But we don't make the decisions, we just have to abide by them.

"It's a waste of time appealing. I've never seen a clearer one than Barcham against Sheff United. If you're going to get off, you're going to get off with that one, but we didn't.

"The worse thing is then you see others get off for worse things. Where's the consistency?"

The Iron also confirmed this morning that they have extended the loan of Everton defender Shane Duffy by another month. He will now remain at Glanford Park until January 8.