JAKE Buxton was left cursing his luck again after Albion finished a difficult week with a 2-0 defeat at Hull.
The Brewers were reduced to 10 men by the 17th minute sending off of Sam Hughes and were forced to defend manfully for long stretches of the game.
After a week of Covid cases and then Kane Hemmings pulling up in the warm up, the sending off was another blow for the luckless Brewers.
But they rolled their sleeves up and defended tirelessly before going down to two second half strikes.
Buxton said: “In terms of effort after the week we have had at the club I can’t ask any more of the players.
“It was not great having Kane pull his quad in the warm up and we had to readjust. Going down to 10 men, it was always going to be a big ask before the game, having to go again with the same bodies after Tuesday night and playing last Sunday as well.
“Playing with ten men it was going to be even tougher but I have no qualms with the effort and desire from the lads, it’s just very tough to win a game away from home with ten men and the changes we had to make early doors.”
The sending off changed the nature of the game and looked harsh.
Buxton said: “I haven’t seen them back but in the game I didn’t see either challenge being too aggressive or overboard but normal coming together. I will have to look again to make a fair assessment.”
Buxton praised the performance of his players battling against the odds.
“I thought we pressed more in the second half with Stephen Quinn further up the pitch and that caused them problems but he got tired after not training for two weeks after having the virus so we had to have a change at some point.
“Ciaran Gilligan was excellent again against very experienced players. Owen Gallacher came up against a tough opponent in Mallik Wilks and he has waited for his opportunity and did well today.
“Ben Garratt made a mistake at Plymouth and came out of the side. He has had to wait for another chance, but he has trained well and been great around the group and he has played well today.
“The lads need a breather now and we will prepare for Northampton. It’s a big week preparing for what is a very important game.”
Picture: Thanks to Hull City FC