‘EFL official avoids riotous West Brom scenes v QPR after Molumby incident’
Jayson Molumby was fortunate to not be sent off as West Brom beat QPR at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Darnell Furlong was shown a straight red card in the first half by referee Adam Herczeg, who adjudged the right-back to have elbowed QPR’s Koki Saito just minutes after Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Molumby, 25, could have also gone for an early bath before the half-time whistle.
Keith Hackett: ‘Molumby could have easily been red-carded’
Just after half-an-hour of action, Ireland international Molumby went into the referee’s book for a cynical foul as QPR looked to counter-attack.
Moments after Furlong was shown red for the incident with Saito, Molumby fouled the Japanese attacker near the Halfords Lane touchline.
After Herczeg blew his whistle for the foul, the already-booked Molumby was seen trying to pull Saito up by his shirt before being ushered away by QPR players.
| Jayson Molumby | Championship stats |
| Appearances | 32 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 9 |
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes that could have been another booking for Molumby, who is already one more yellow card away from a two-match ban.
However, Hackett admits that Herczeg could have avoided going down that route to prevent riotous scenes at The Hawthorns.
“When you are already on a yellow card, then it is important to not do anything that may see you been issued with a second yellow,” Hackett told West Brom News.
“This holding by the West Brom player could easily have seen the referee issue him with a second yellow.
“The referee, given the heat in the game, has adopted, in this situation, a tolerant approach.”
Molumby walks West Brom suspension tightrope
After his first-half booking against QPR, Molumby is now one more yellow card away from a two-match ban.
Next up for Albion is a trip to third-placed Burnley on Tuesday night (11 March) so there’s a worrying chance that the Ireland international could then be banned for more winnable fixtures versus Hull (15 March) and Norwich (29 March).
Molumby looked like he was in the mood for a second yellow against QPR at The Hawthorns, so let’s hope he’s a bit more measured against stronger opposition in the week.