West Brom boss Tony Pulis warns James McClean over future conduct
Thursday 24 December 2015 12:56, UK
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis has warned James McClean about his future conduct but insists the club does not have a problem with discipline.
McClean was sent off in the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday for reacting to a 50-50 challenge with Adam Smith by chopping down the defender to earn himself a three-match ban.
Pulis fears Premier League referees will now be watching the winger closely and was angered McClean did not heed the warning given by his manager two games earlier when he was lucky not to be red carded for a rash tackle on Mousa Dembele.
"We talked to James after the Tottenham game. That was a rash challenge," said Pulis.
"So for him to do it two games later, irrespective of whether the full-back had just done him or not, is just stupid.
"I have had a good chat with him and he understands. He's a good lad. It was just the fact that that challenge came so quickly after the challenge on him.
"That mist was still there. He has got to wash that away because it's just petulance and we can't afford that.
"He has got to realise that now that people will be aware. If he makes a mistake, the next time he's going to get punished."
Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon was also sent off against the Cherries for kicking out and pushing his head into Dan Gosling, and will, like McClean, sit out three matches, beginning with the Boxing Day trip to Swansea.
Pulis does not feel the club has any problems with discipline, though, seeing the double dismissal as an aberration.
"Our disciplinary record is good so far," he added.
"We've only had one player suspended so far and that was Claudio Yacob for five yellow cards, and he can get five yellow cards in training, never mind in games.
"The team has been exceptionally well behaved in lots of games."
