Albion were reduced to 10 men in the final stages of their 1-0 defeat at the MKM Stadium on Saturday
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
05:00, 21 Dec 2025
Alfie Gilchrist was sent off against Hull City(Image: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic admitted he was surprised that West Brom’s Alfie Gilchrist was sent off by referee Ruebyn Ricardo 15 minutes from time, with the Tigers leading 1-0.
For the second successive game, City‘s opponents were reduced to 10 men in the final quarter of an hour after Femi Azeez was dismissed at Millwall a week ago.
Gilchrist, who had only replaced George Campbell eight minutes earlier, after he was at risk of being dismissed, was given his marching orders for a challenge on Liam Millar in front of the Baggies’ defence.
Replays later suggested the contact on Millar was minimal, but after a lengthy pause, the referee decided to dismiss Gilchrist and leave the Albion bench furious.
“I was surprised,” Jakirovic told Hull Live after watching his side claim a third straight win courtesy of Oli McBurnie’s penalty deep into added time at the end of a truncated first half.
“I can admit that because I was thinking it was a yellow card, but he (the referee) pulled out the red card. When you watch it again on television, it’s very harsh. It was harsh, though this is his decision. I know the referees, you never know.”
The game’s big moment came in what turned out to be the 54th minute of a first half delayed by seven minutes after Charlie Hughes needed lengthy treatment after a clash with the head of Nat Phillips.
Phillips, who scored the winner for Derby County at the MKM Stadium in April, then gave away a penalty with a handball, though Jakirovic’s superstition ensured he didn’t watch McBurnie nonchalantly roll past Joe Wildsmith.
“I didn’t watch the penalty,” he explained. I just heard the crowd noise, which told me he scored, and this is most important. I am superstitious. These are my habits. You know that I have never won on penalties since I’ve been a coach, so the next time, if the FA Cup game goes to penalties, I will be in the dressing room. I will not watch, and I must change something.”
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