First it was Ashley Barnes.

Now that Barnes has gone to Burnley it is David Lopez.

The Spanish midfielder deserves a break from his Amex detractors.

There are quite a few of them, it seems, among the Albion fanbase.

It is noticeable with David, just as it used to be with Barnes. If he misplaces a pass, underhits or overhits a cross, it is seized upon.

Other crowd favourites escape such unforgiving scrutiny when they make an error.

I am not quite sure why 'Spanish Dave', who let's not forget played and scored in La Liga for Athletic Bilbao, has become so audibly disliked.

True, his form has not been as good or as influential as it was last season, but he has often been used as an unnatural right-winger.

Also, he is not the type of character you might expect to attract flak in quite the same way as the spikey Barnes.

David could still have an important role in Albion's season, particularly as he is their reliable penalty taker.

Who knows? He might step up at Wembley in May to take a spot-kick to send the Seagulls into the Premier League.