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West Brom's Romaine Sawyers grateful for support

Romaine Sawyers has thanked his team mates, Albion's staff and the majority of fans for the support he has received following his red card at Bristol City.

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Romaine Sawyers of West Bromwich Albion is greeted by a fan

But the midfielder also warned some supporters to think about what they post on social media after being left upset by some messages sent his way.

Sawyers was sent off during the Baggies thumping 3-0 win at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

He was dismissed following an altercation with Jamie Paterson – a player he has known for almost 10 years after they played together at Walsall.

Sawyers was initially left angry with Paterson after the City man tried to kick his legs away as they battled for the ball.

But after a heated exchange of words, Sawyers then placed his hand on the throat of Paterson – with that action seeing him given a red card by referee Darren England.

That decision means he will miss Albion's next three games – and promoted some fans to criticise him on social media.

The majority of messages the 28-year-old received, though, were positive with many fans concerned why Sawyers – who always tends to be calm and mild-mannered – reacted so angrily.

And the midfielder thanked them for their support as well all his team mates who backed him up at full-time.

“I have had a lot of comments sent to me from family, friends and ex teammates about the situation, written by fans,” Sawyers wrote in a post on Twitter.

“We can all have an opinion, which is fine, but that includes me and some of the things wrongly ‘assumed’ by ‘our’ fans is embarrassing to say the least.

“Sometimes it’s just easy to have an opinion for the sake of it, or to look like a football fan, but remember you same people will tweet ‘we are all in this together’.

“I get emotional just like anyone else so part of me understands, but sometimes think before you tweet.

"With this being said I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by a club that has a lot of positivity surrounding it, from fans to my teammates and staff, which I truly appreciate from the bottom of my heart.

“Our changing room is amazing and what’s been said in there will remain in there but if you want any indication of the type of people I work with and for, the celebration for the third goal just sums us up as a group and what a group I have the privilege to be a part of!

“I have the most faith the boys will rally together like we have all season for the games I’m banned for and I can’t wait to be out there with them again performing for my club!"

Speaking after the match, head coach Slaven Bilic said he didn't feel Sawyers should have been sent off for placing his hand on Paterson.

"I spoke to him (Sawyers), and I saw the incident. Believe me, I’d say the same if it was the other way around - for me, it’s not a red card,” the head coach said.

“For me, their player helped because he didn’t react in a crazy way. He didn’t exaggerate what happened. It was Romaine who reacted because of something that he did. Okay, he grabbed him, but if this is a red card we’d have a lot of red cards.

“For me, it’s not - and believe me I’d say the same...for people who say ‘well they’re the rules’ - yes but there are situations in the game. It can’t be black and white.

“For me, this is a derby game. Move on. They’re talking about three or four games - this is ridiculous to be fair.

“Romaine just isn’t that kind of a guy. It’s different if it’s someone crazy who is doing it, but not Romaine.”

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