West Brom striker Brandon Thomas-Asante slammed by Chesterfield coach after FA Cup elbow
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb believes it was a “shame” that West Brom striker Brandon Thomas-Asante’s elbow was left unpunished in their FA Cup third-round clash.
The Baggies were disappointing in their 3-3 draw against the Spireites on Saturday (7 January), with Thomas-Asante netting a dramatic injury-time equaliser to force a replay.
His second goal of the match came moments after the striker swung a rash elbow at Chesterfield defender Jeff King, which was missed by match officials but would have been spotted if VAR was in use at the ground.
Giving his reaction to the controversial moment, will likely result in a retrospective ban for Thomas-Asante, assistant manager Webb told the Derbyshire Times: “It is a shame.
“If we were in the Premier League and had VAR then the goal does not stand, but that’s life.
“If Thomas-Asante gets sent off, he does not score the goal, but don’t think that we come away and go ‘oh there’s nothing to analyse there, we were fantastic, we were perfect’, because we are disappointed with all three goals.”
Obvious foul
Thomas-Asante’s moment of madness was clear for all to see, and if he had been given his marching orders, Chesterfield could well be in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The striker lashed out with an elbow, and the lack of VAR is a major talking point for the FA to discuss in the coming months, as at a big Premier League ground, he would have been sent off so the Baggies look to have got away with one.
He is likely to face a retrospective ban and miss the replay on Tuesday 17 January, but it would not be a surprise to see Corberan name a strong starting XI with the aim of scoring early and wrapping up a victory against the National League side.
Since joining from Salford City in the summer, Thomas-Asante has moved from strength to strength, and his brace against Chesterfield was a fine example of the talent he possesses.
The 24-year-old’s recent form means he’s in with a chance of supplanting Daryl Dike in the Baggies’ starting XI, and Corberan now has a massive selection dilemma to deal with in the coming weeks.
In other West Brom news, one Sky Sports pundit wanted a Baggies forward sent off against Chesterfield