TONY Mowbray refused to 'lambast' Luke Moore after his game-changing red card in today's 4-1 defeat by lowly Leicester.

The 22-year-old striker suffered the first sending-off of his five-year professional career when referee Darren Deadman gave him his marching orders for a late challenge on Foxes full-back Richard Stearman.

Just three minutes later, City centre-half Gareth McAuley levelled Robert Koren's 22^nd-minute opener - the Slovenia international's ninth of the campaign.

And Steve Howard's second-half hat-trick condemned the fourth-placed Baggies to only their third home league defeat of the season.

To compound Albion's misery, they had to play the final eight minutes with nine men after Leon Barnett limped off with a hamstring injury, with all three substitutions already made.

"In modern day football, there are a lot of sending-offs most weekends," said Mowbray.

"Today it obviously affected us a little bit.

"It looked as if Luke went chasing the ball.

"I don't want to defend him or criticise him, really.

"Ultimately, officials make decisions and we have to abide by them.

"We have to accept it and we've just got to get on with it.

"Leicester's strengths are set-plays because they have a few big lads and you are always guarded against them.

"But they didn't really cause us any problems up until the sending-off.

"We got our noses in front and were pretty comfortable.

"I'd like to think if it had stayed 11 versus 11 it would have been a different story.

"But good luck to them because they are fighting for their lives.

"They got three points today and we wish them well.

"Today has gone now and we won't look into it too deeply.

"We'll look to the next game.

"Nothing much has changed.

"We've just got to go and win some football matches."

Albion are now five points behind top-two Stoke and Bristol City, with two games in hand, and two points behind Watford, who have played a game more.

Moore will now serve a three-match ban after Cheshunt official Deadman deemed his red-card offence to be serious foul play.

"Luke was very quiet in the dressing room and I'll have a chat with him when things calm down," added Mowbray.

"Sometimes it's better not to address things too soon.

"Luke's a young player trying to impress at a new club and I've got no problems with that.

"He tells me he's never been sent-off before in his career.

"We have to deal with it.

"Players do get sent-off and I'm not here to lambast anyone.

"We'll just get on with the next game."

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