MICKY ADAMS says he can't be too hard on 'magnificent' Carl Dickinson after the grieving defender helped Port Vale to a 1-0 win over Oldham, but picked up a booking for dissent to earn a two-match ban that rules him out of the FA Cup tie against Albion on Saturday.

Dickinson's mother died last Saturday, but the 26-year-old returned to duty to help Vale win 3-2 at Plymouth in the FA Cup on Tuesday, and then produced a superb performance as the Valiants edged to a league win over the Latics at Vale Park on Saturday.

However, the left back was booked on 66 minutes, his 10th yellow card of the season which puts him out of Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Albion and the home league game with Crawley a week on Tuesday.

Adams, the former Albion manager, speaking to the Stoke Sentinel , said: "I am massively disappointed with that, and Carl is disappointed as well. I think it was a stupid booking.

"I know he didn't get a corner, but you keep your mouth shut and get on the half way line.

"He knows he is on nine bookings. But it is hard to criticise a man after what he has been through.

"I'll forgive him. I might take a few quid off him but I will forgive him.

"He is a magnificent pro, one of the best I have ever worked with."

Meanwhile, Vale face an anxious wait to discover the extent of Florent Cuvelier's knee injury.