Joe Ellis

Tue 4 January 2022 16:10, UK

Valerien Ismael could be without two of his star players when West Brom host Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday, according to Joe Chapman and Steve Madeley.

Midfielder Alex Mowatt was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Cardiff’s Will Vaulks in the second half while goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was shown the same card for his objections to a late penalty decision that went against the Baggies.

Madeley however believes West Brom have the right to appeal both decisions while the FA are studying the referee’s report of the game which could land Cardiff in hot water too.

Chapman adds that as Jayson Molumby and Matt Clarke are on loan at the Albion from Brighton, they cannot player.

Foolish to get involved

Cardiff was always going to come to the Hawthorns with a battle plan in mind which involved a physical approach.

Ismael and his team will have known this but they failed to keep the players’ emotions in check late on.

While you can perhaps excuse Mowatt’s dismissal as it was one of those that could be seen as a yellow or a red on any given day, Johnstone’s actions at full time cannot be excused.

He is seen as one of the experienced and best players within that West Brom dressing room so even when there is a small scuffle in the middle of the pitch, you would expect Johnstone to be a peace-maker, not the antagoniser.

While you can understand his desire to protect his fellow teammates he doesn’t need to do so in such an aggressive and physical manner.

As a result, he now misses the Baggies next three games unless the FA decide to rescind his red card but all the evidence suggests that won’t happen.

The two red cards aside though, it was still not good enough from Ismael’s side who dropped yet more crucial points against relegation-threatened teams and they could be dragged back into a fight just to make the playoffs if a solution isn’t found soon.

In other West Brom news, the Baggies’ new signing has been compared to a Premier League superstar.