Ryan Mason disappointed with 'ill-discipline' that proved costly as West Brom lose at Coventry

The Irishman picked up a first-half yellow card for a bodycheck near Coventry's corner flag and lasted just four minutes into the second period before a cynical shirt pull in midfield saw him dismissed.

The Sky Blues had pulled one back before half-time but in a little over 10 minutes Frank Lampard's hosts went from 2-1 down to 3-2 up against 10 men.

Mason felt the red card had a "clear" effect on the outcome. The head coach said: "I've not seen the first one, obviously I see the second.

"I'll protect the players, I always will, it's my job and responsibility.

"But I think it was a lack of discipline in that moment which has given the ref a decision to make.

"It's certainly something we need to learn from and avoid happening again especially where it was on the pitch. Very disappointing."

Asked about the physical nature of Molumby's game, Mason added: "I'm not going to expand on the answer - I've just said it was a lack of discipline and gave the ref a decision to make.

"As a group we take responsibility. The most important responsibility to take is mine.

"It's very difficult to win games of football with a man less for such a long period, so it's something we need to avoid happening again."

Coventry struck back with an Ellis Simms equaliser and winner from Victor Torp just after the hour.

Molumby, started for the first time in seven games after injury, will serve a one-match suspension during Wednesday's derby against Birmingham at The Hawthorns.

Asked if Molumby had apologised to colleagues in the dressing room, Mason replied: "He's a man and he takes responsibility, like we all do.

"But ultimately it's my responsibility for the whole group. We need to learn and grow as a group and understand moments and decisions we make, with a real discipline to our football.

"In the first half we showed that, in the last three or four games we've shown a real discipline in certain runs, movements and finishing off attacks. We showed it in the first half and scored two extremely good goals.

"To go down to 10 men is tough."

Mason was pleased with what he saw from his side in the first period, where they raced into a 2-0 lead through Heggebo's double. The Norwegian now has three goals in two games.

Josh Eccles pulled one back before the break to boost the hosts, but the Baggies were undone by Molumby.

"Eleven v eleven I think we probably created the better chances, scored really good goals," said the head coach. "They are a really good team and are going to have moments and momentum in the game when they get in the final third and put crosses in.

"But the goals we scored were really good and we knew we could hurt them and I thought we showed that.

"To go down to 10 men for such a period of time in this stadium, in the way they are in, it's always going to be difficult to see the game out.

"Disappointingly we conceded so quickly going down to 10 men and then you enter a period where you don't want the game to get away from you. I thought we managed that well and stayed alive in the game until the end.

"Nothing really fell our way. We had a few set-plays but couldn't create anything or put any pressure on."