Tony Pulis: James McClean is a marked man

The Irish winger will miss the festive programme after being hit with a three-match ban, following his red card for a retaliatory foul on Adam Smith during the Baggies 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.

Pulis branded McClean's actions as "stupid" - revealing he had previously warned the 26-year-old about his tacking after a rash challenge on Tottenham's Moussa Dembele earlier this month.

"James was stupid because we talked to him after the Tottenham game," said Pulis.

"It was a rash challenge against Tottenham so for him to do it two games later, irrespective of whether the full-back had just done him or not.

"For him to run back and make a similar sort of challenge is just stupid.

"He's got to realise that now the Tottenham challenge has been shown a few times people will be aware, and I'm sure they were aware.

"If he makes a mistake the next time he's going to get punished and I'm sure that's what happened.

"He made a similar challenge and he's been punished."

Albion, who go to Swansea on Boxing Day, will also be without striker Salomon Rondon for their next three matches after the striker was also sent off against the Cherries, for a stoppage time headbutt.

Both men have been fined by Pulis, who said: "The loss of Salomon and James are big.

"Salomon has been exceptional for us away from home so they are two big misses.

"Our disciplinary record is good so far. We've only had one players suspended so far and that was Yacob for five yellow cards, and he can get five yellow cards in training, nevermind in games.

"The team has been exceptionally well behaved in lots of games."