Albion profit from Mifsud dismissal

The controversial sending-off of Michael Mifsud in only the 11th minute meant that the home side were always up against it.

They survived until half-time but Albion went on a goal spree after the interval with two goals from Filipe Teixeira and one apiece for Paul Robinson and Robert Koren breaking Coventry's resistance.

Ishmael Miller delivered Albion's first threat of the game after just two minutes when he outpaced Marcus Hall, cut in from the right and shot just wide of the far post.

West Bromwich created the better chances early on but when Zoltan Gera supplied Teixeira, the Portuguese midfielder's shot lacked any real power.

The game then boiled over with the controversial dismissal of Mifsud. The Malta forward blatantly elbowed Carl Hoefkens in the face as both jumped for the same ball, but referee Phil Dowd took advice through his earpiece before producing the red card as he seemed to have missed the incident.

There was even a suggestion that video replay evidence might have been used before the decision to send off the player.

But Dowd was also beckoning the player away from the incident to prevent any further repercussions, while he received confirmation of what had happened.

Coventry boss Iain Dowie questioned the decision and appeared to ask fourth official Andy Hall if it had been made due to TV evidence, to which the answer no was indicated.

Mifsud was furious at the dismissal and it robbed Coventry of their 11-goal top scorer and potential match-winner who, ironically, Albion manager Tony Mowbray had identified as City's danger man after trying to sign him for West Brom last season.

Coventry striker Dele Adebola almost opened the scoring when he went close with a header but the match became bad-tempered after that with Albion defender Bostjan Cesar being shown a yellow card for bringing down Jay Tabb.

West Bromwich took full control of the game just before the hour mark with two goals in as many minutes.

Robinson is fast becoming the man who loves to score against Coventry as he lobbed home his third goal in as many games against them after collecting a Koren pass.

A mix-up in the Coventry defence soon after allowed Teixeira to make it two. Coventry's fate was sealed in the 73rd minute when Teixeira was on the mark again.

He collected a pass from Hoefkens and wriggled away from the Coventry defence before slotting the ball home. Teixeira then turned provider for Koren to score the fourth in the last minute.