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West Brom striker Dwight Gayle banned for Aston Villa derby clash

Dwight Gayle is out of the Championship derby clash with rivals Villa after being banned for diving.

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A three-person independent FA panel unanimously judged the 16-goal striker guilty of ‘successful deception of a match official’ in Albion’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Gayle was handed an immediate two-match ban, ruling him out of tomorrow’s high-profile clash at Villa Park as well as the trip to Queens Park Rangers next Tuesday.

The incident saw Albion awarded an 89th-minute penalty at The Hawthorns, which was converted by strike partner Jay Rodriguez to rescue a point for the Baggies.

Television replays revealed their had been no contact as Gayle went to ground.

However, the striker is understood to have maintained he was trying to avoid an anticipated challenge rather than try to deceive referee Lee Mason.

That cut little ice with the FA though. Albion decided to accept the decision rather than try to appeal the charge, which they believe would be a pointless exercise, though they remain fully supportive of Gayle’s defence and unhappy with the lack of consistency which has seen other recent high-profile ‘dives’ going unpunished by the FA.

Some supporters had called for the Baggies to appeal in the hope of having Gayle available for the short trip to Villa Park.

However, Albion chiefs are believed to have rejected that option as the FA have procedures in place to prevent clubs effectively manipulating when a ban comes into force.