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Albion's Chris Brunt banned for one game

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West Brom's Chris Brunt has escaped with a one-match ban for his confrontation with match officials after the FA Cup derby defeat at Aston Villa.

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The former captain will miss Saturday's trip to Manchester City after being given a one-match ban and an £8,000 fine by a Football Association commission.

But the winger was spared a potential two-match suspension after pleading his case at a personal hearing this afternoon.

Brunt and Albion cited exceptional circumstances including the huge post-match pitch invasion by Villa fans and the controversial red card shown to Baggies midfielder Claudio Yacob.

The Northern Ireland international confronted officials in the tunnel immediately after the final whistle.

He was later charged with using abusive or insulting behaviour towards a match official. He accepted the charge, but requested a personal hearing.

Albion's director of football administration Richard Garlick accompanied Brunt to the hearing in London.

He said: "We had a fair hearing and feel the punishment is an acknowledgement by the commission that this was an extraordinary case.

"It was a difficult end to the game for everyone and emotions were running high.

"I think Chris' disciplinary record, which has seen him issued with one red card in more than 400 appearances at the highest levels, was also rightly noted."

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