Dowie: Mifsud had to go

Most of the post-match talk surrounded the diminutive striker's red card after only 10 minutes. It was a decision that led to a landslide of goals for Albion after the break as the visitors rammed home their numerical advantage to devastating effect.

Coventry manager Dowie said: "I think it was the right decision. When you jump and lead with your arm as Michael did then there can only be one outcome."

However, Dowie refused to blame Mifsud for his side's heaviest defeat of the season.

He said: "It is totally out of character for him and he is very remorseful and disappointed about it because he thinks he has cost us the game. But it hasn't. Bad defending has cost us.

"The biggest thing is that we now lose him for three matches. I am not going to chastise him too much for it out hang him out to dry as he has been magnificent for us this season and he has given us some wonderful moments.

"We all make mistakes, the important thing is that he learns from it."

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray leapt to the defence of Mifsud. Mowbray considered signing the Malta international himself before the Sky Blues swooped to prise him away from Lillestrom in the summer of 2006, and the Baggies boss believes the challenge on Hoefkens was totally out of character.

"I don't think he did it in a malicious manner," said Mowbray. "I do not think for one minute that he is the type of player who goes around trying to harm his fellow professionals.

"It looked like a bad challenge but a player of Mifsud's character, I would suggest, would not do that kind of thing deliberately."