West Brom v Sunderland: Tony Brown accuses Dan Ballard amid ‘toxic’ atmopshere at The Hawthorns
Tony Brown accused Dan Ballard of “timewasting” when the Sunderland defender wound up West Brom fans with his antics in Albion’s 1-0 defeat at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Ballard, 24, was booed throughout the 90 minutes by the home support due to his shocking challenge on Josh Maja back in early December, which led to the Baggies striker spending four months on the sidelines.
Jed Wallace got booked for a challenge on the Northern Ireland international in the 68th minute, which was followed by the defender pretending he had cramp.
However, moments later, he was up on his feet and jumping around without any issues, leading to Albion legend Brown accusing Ballard of trying to run down the clock.
Speaking live on BBC Radio WM on Saturday (04:30pm, 13 April), Brown said: “The noise has intensified here.
“Carlos Corberan has urged the crowd to get behind the team and they’ve responded and the Sunderland crowd are getting behind their team. It’s more of an atmosphere at the moment.”
BBC Radio WM commentator Steve Hermon then said: “Dan Ballard is helping the toxic atmosphere because he’s gone down with a bit of cramp but then suddenly rose to his feet and is bouncing doing star jumps.”
Brown added: “Albion aren’t happy. What it is, it’s timewasting. That’s the word for it.”
Hermon said: “Albion fans weren’t best pleased with it.”
Dan Ballard frustrates West Brom again
Ballard should have been sent off at the Stadium of Light in December for that ugly challenge on Maja, from which the striker has only just returned this week when he came off the bench against Rotherham.
He was up to his antics again at The Hawthorns by riling up the home crowd, who were rightly on his back throughout the game.
Unfortunately for West Brom, the hostility towards the Sunderland centre-back only seemed to motivate him further and he was the player who Brandon Thomas-Asante fouled at the end of the first half to receive his second booking and resulting red card.
Ballard didn’t do anything wrong with that. It was a stupid moment by Thomas-Asante, who ended up getting himself sent off for having such a terrible first touch.
Overall, West Brom did quite well until that red card and the goal by Pierre Ekwah a few minutes later killed off proceedings.
In other West Brom news, an ex-FIFA official has slammed a controversial Albion decision against Rotherham United.
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