Darren Moore calls for consistency after Dwight Gayle ban for diving

The Baggies boss, who insists Gayle is not a diver, pointed out only a few players had been suspended since the law was introduced in 2017.

And he questioned why the FA didn’t act after Mason Holgate was caught by a dangerous tackle from Nottingham Forest striker Lewis Grabban in the same game.

“To reach that verdict is disappointing,” said Moore. “We stand by Dwight.

“I just call for consistency. This rule was brought in in 2017, we’ve only had two incidents.

“We’ve had things given against us and we’ve never called for it.

“I spoke to Dwight, he said ‘Gaffer, I’ve taken a touch, I’m expecting to get clattered by two defenders, I’ve nicked the ball away and evaded the tackles.’

"We support that as a club. He is really disappointed to be accused of something far from what he is.”

Albion also feel aggrieved because Forest defender Alexander Milošević went down clutching his face after an innocuous tussle with Gayle in the same game.

And Moore highlighted two pieces of dangerous play in games against Albion this month that were missed by referees.

Florin Andone's elbow on Sam Field in the FA Cup fourth round replay with Brighton was punished retrospectively by the FA, but Grabban's challenge on Holgate was not.

“None of us condone diving,” said Moore. “We’re not asking players to do that. We play football in the right manner, I will always tell my players to play in the right manner. And they do.

"I’m just asking for consistency with how we go about this.”

Moore believes the slowed down replay of Gayle’s actions do not accurately reflect the wider context of the situation.

“They’re going into Dwight Gayle’s mind,” he said. “How do you know what he was planning at that moment in time?

“Take into consideration the speed of the pass, time and emotion of the game, what he’s thinking about, what the two defenders are thinking about.

“The video evidence 24 hours later doesn’t give you the emotion of the game.”

When Moore was asked if Gayle was suspended because the match was broadcast live on television, he said: “I’m not sure, it’s a difficult one for me to say.

“Yes it gets more exposure because it’s on TV. But I’m not sure.

“There’s incidents that have happened to us this season, and we’ve not cried over.

“We’ve had two incidents already this season where my players could have been seriously injured and they’ve been missed.

“Just give us some consistency and I don’t think anyone will have any grudges.”

And he reiterated his support for Gayle, the Newcastle loanee with 16 goals for Albion this season.

“We stand by Dwight," said Moore. “He has such a wonderful energy and really likes the football club.

“He has moved into the area and put his life and soul into the club.

“The boy just likes to play and scores goals.

“That is why we as a football club stand firmly by him, we really do.

“We are a club that work with him on a day to day basis and understand what he brings to us.

“He is part of the family and when one gets hurt, we all hurt together."