ALBION have been plunged into a disciplinary crisis over Christmas by early red cards for Romain Vincelot and Ashley Barnes.

They are banned for the next three matches as a result of their dismissals in the first 12 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Burnley.

Vincelot and Barnes miss the Boxing Day visit to Reading, the trip to Coventry on New Year's Eve and the game against leaders Southampton at The Amex on January 2. Five other players are in danger of coinciding suspensions. Assistant manager Mauricio Taricco was booked against Burnley and will be suspended for a game if he collects a fifth yellow card against Reading or Coventry.

Team-mates Gordon Greer, Liam Bridcutt and Craig Noone are in the same situation as Taricco, while a two-match ban is almost inevitable for Lewis Dunk. The centre half has to survive until the second Sunday in April without collecting his tenth caution of the campaign.

The nightmare scenario for manager Gus Poyet is losing several players simultaneously through suspension to compound a lengthy injury list.

Poyet is also unsure whether on-loan Chilean defender Gonzaloa Jara Reyes will be available for the festive fixtures after he missed the controversial Burnley defeat for personal reasons.

Vincelot saw red in the sixth minute for a retaliatory punch to the ribs of Marvin Bartley, which referee Craig Pawson and his assistants missed but which was spotted by fourth official Andrew Laver.

Barnes followed the Frenchman down the tunnel six minutes later for stamping in a 50-50 tackle with Burnley captain Chris McCann.

Poyet, fearing a fine, refused to comment on Pawson or the red card incidents. "I'm not going to comment because I need to blame one of the opposition players and I won't do that," he said.

The Uruguayan was riled when reminded during the post-match press conference that Albion's record of four red cards and 59 yellows is the worst in the Championship.

“I'm going to tell you a few stats you will love,” he said. “In the games involving Albion we've had 59 cards, the opposition 60. If you add the fouls, we've had almost 100 less than the opposition and if you tell me we made a bad challenge I take it.

“That's the stats, that is what you like in England, 146 games for Chelsea, 49 goals (his playing record). That's what you like, I learnt it from you, so take that one.”

Craig Mackail-Smith spurned a double chance in stoppage time to earn Albion's nine men a point following Burnley fullback Kieran Trippier's 20-yard strike in the first half.

Poyet added: “The lads were outstanding. We were 100 per cent sure we would have a chance and what a chance, the best chance in the game. It didn't go in but it doesn't matter. We did everything we should.”