Furious Albion were today building a case for Paul Robinson as the club seethed over referee Rob Styles’s role in their hammering by Manchester United.

Albion will piece together video evidence in the hope of overturning the controversial straight red card that could land stand-in skipper Robinson with a three-match ban.

And, while manager Tony Mowbray has refused to enter into a war of words with the controversial Hampshire official, angry officials are likely to lodge a formal appeal against the defender’s sending-off for a foul on Park Ji-sung.

Robinson was dismissed late in the first half of the 5-0 defeat for a challenge on United’s Korean midfielder but replays suggested the Albion left-back had not jumped into the tackle.

The Baggies are certain Styles got it wrong but they will weigh up the strength of their TV evidence today before making a final decision on an appeal.

Mowbray refused to criticise Styles, who was jeered from the field by supporters at the final whistle.

But the manager said: “Paul is a wholehearted player. We are all aware of the rules about leaving the ground but, having watched it many times and played it back in the dressing room, he doesn’t appear to me to leave the ground.

“They both slid. Park slid as well and there was a collision. But there’s no point in me harping on about it. The referee made a decision and we all have to abide by it.

“We’ll look at it and decide if we’re going to appeal but I’ve got my own opinion of it.

“I’ve seen the incident many times on the laptop in the dressing room but I didn’t get Mr Styles’ angle so I don’t know what he saw.

“He thought it was wor-thy of a red card and we have to abide by that for the time being.

“Football matches are at their best when the game is the spectacle really and you don’t have the whole stadium almost finding the referee the centre of attention.

“It’s not a particularly nice spectacle when that happens.”

If the red card against Robinson stands the long-serving defender will miss the crucial Premier League meetings with Hull and Newcastle as well as the FA Cup fourth-round replay at Burnley.