Albion weekend match-winner Simon Cox has backed the squad to cope with the loss of key winger Jerome Thomas through suspension.

The striker, who struck the winning goal after being recalled in one of four team changes, claimed Saturday’s 1-0 win at Plymouth proved the strength in depth at the Hawthorns.

Thomas will serve a four-match ban after his late sending-off at Home Park, but Cox insisted other players will rise to the challenge.

He said: “We will miss him, because he’s a massive player for us. But we’ve got people who can come in and replace him, so hopefully it won’t make too much of a difference.

“The gaffer made big changes on Saturday and that was a gamble that he took. It paid off as we ended up getting three points, it just shows what a good squad we’ve got if he can do that.”

Thomas received his marching orders for a lunging tackle on David McNamee in stoppage time in Devon.

But Cox, who had the perfect view of the tackle from the Albion bench after being substituted, felt the wide man was unfortunate.

The striker said: “It was right in front of us. Jerome had been kicked a few times before and I think he just saw red. But he didn’t go in maliciously, he went for the ball.

“It wasn’t high and it could easily have been a yellow card, because there were a few earlier in the game when the referee gave yellow cards.”

Cox netted his eight goal of the season in the second half to hand Albion victory, after making his first start in six matches in an unaccustomed attacking midfield role.

The 22-year-old paid tribute to the Baggies’ fighting spirit after their second win in four days on a nightmare pitch at Home Park.

He said: “It was a good all-round day but it wasn’t easy. The boys had to fight hard and dig in, especially when we got down to the later stages.

“Going down to 10 men at a place like that isn’t nice, especially when the board goes up with five minutes of added time. We ground out a result and we’re happy with the three points.

“The surface was not great. We like to play passing football but we had no chance with that pitch. We just had to grind it out, hope to nick a winner and hold on.”