DISGRACED Albion striker Darren Freeman will be banned for at least four matches after another red card.

Among the games he could miss is a potential third round FA Cup tie away to Reading or Halifax.

Freeman was sent-off for spitting in the Seagulls' goalless FA Cup draw at Plymouth Argyle.

Manager Micky Adams said last night: "I am aware of what went on. We will wait to see the referee's report, then take it from there.

"In the Third Division you have got to be competitive. I don't think anybody would argue with that.

"But we've had four sending offs and three have been for things other than tackling. That is not acceptable and I am going to speak to all of my players about it."

Freeman was making his comeback on Saturday from a three-match suspension for his red card at Cheltenham last month, when he stamped on an opponent.

That means he will be automatically banned for an extra game this time, while the FA may also decide to take further action.

It rules him out of League journeys to Mansfield on December 4 and Swansea on December 18, plus the Auto Windscreens Shield tie at home to Millwall on December 7.

Albion's top scorer will also be sidelined from the the FA Cup clash against Reading or Halifax on December 11 if Albion beat Plymouth in the replay, or Rochdale's trip to Withdean on December 10.

Danny Cullip, sent-off in the second half at Plymouth as well for a second bookable offence, only misses the Mansfield match.

Adams said: "I think he was a bit unlucky. The first booking for a tackle was debatable."

Cullip and Freeman are both available for the replay a week tomorrow, but Gary Hart and Warren Aspinall are banned for collecting too many bookings.

Albion's hopes of landing a lucrative third round FA Cup tie were dashed in yesterday's draw.

Halifax have already beaten them 2-1 at home in the Third Division and Chris Wilder will be looking forward to a possible return. He moved to the Yorkshiremen from Albion last month.

Halifax held Reading 1-1 at the Second Division strugglers' impressive new Madejski Stadium on Saturday. Their replay is also on November 30.

Adams admitted: "Every lower division club was looking for a big one. But we have got to make sure we are in the third round first.

"We've still got a difficult game against Plymouth."

Ironically, the Seagulls could land a third round moneyspinner by going out. They would then join 19 other second round losers hoping for a wild card visit to Aston Villa.

The wild card draw, which will take place once all second round matches are completed, has been caused by Manchester United's controversial absence from the competition this season so that they can play in the world club championships in Brazil.

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