Tony Pulis will review video footage of Hal Robson-Kanu’s dismissal at Burnley before determining whether to appeal against the West Bromwich Albion match-winner’s red card.
The Wales international became just the fourth player in Premier League history to come off the bench, score and be sent off in a lively 20-minute cameo that earned Albion their second straight 1-0 success.
His dismissal came seven minutes from time when the upper part of his forearm caught Matthew Lowton in the head as Robson-Kanu attempted to challenge him for a header in the air, with the referee, Martin Atkinson, immediately showing a red card.
“He took his goal really well, it was a good goal, and then he’s sent off so it’s obviously disappointing,” Pulis said. “I’ve not seen it but I will have a good look at it afterwards and then I’ll comment on it. Whether it was or wasn’t, the referee has made the decision so we had to get on with it.
“It was difficult [after he was sent off]. He was sent off with seven minutes to go and it seemed like an hour. We had to defend for our lives. What Burnley do, they do very, very well and they deserve a lot of credit for it. We have had to ride our luck but the lads have fought and fought all game.”
It is Albion’s best start to a Premier League season and it has been achieved without their captain, Jonny Evans, who was once again absent due to a hamstring problem.
West Brom have turned down a bid from Manchester City for Evans and Pulis reiterated that his omission was injury-related, rather than anything to do with the interest in him. “Jonny’s not the type of lad, even if Man City were involved, not to play a game of football if he was fit,” Pulis added. “He’s a smashing lad, I’ve got a lot of time for him and he’s been fantastic for us. This injury came about before Manchester City have made an enquiry.”
Burnley had nearly 70% of possession, a rarity for them, but managed just one attempt on target and were made to pay for their wastefulness by Robson‑Kanu.
Regarding his later dismissal, Sean Dyche had no doubt the decision was correct. “It’s a definite red that has to be given,” the Burnley manager said. “It’s a late elbow, I don’t think it’s malicious, it’s the flow of the body more than anything, but it’s still an elbow to the face.”
Despite the result, Dyche was upbeat about what he saw from a team that defeated the champions, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge the previous weekend. “I thought it was a good performance,” he said. “You end up scratching your head that you don’t get something, particularly when you perform so well, other than a smack up pitch that we didn’t deal with really.
“I thought we limited them to very few chances and made a number ourselves. I’m disappointed with the outcome but definitely not the performance.”
Dyche refused to comment directly when asked about the decision by the striker Chris Wood, wanted by Burnley for £15m, to rule himself out of Leeds’ game at Sunderland and release a statement about his desire to play in the Premier League. “I choose to not look at other players in the public arena, I prefer to keep our business private so that’s how it sits for me,” Dyche said.
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