ROBERTO Di Matteo claimed he had no choice but to rest key players in today's 1-0 win at Plymouth.

The move more than paid off - but the head coach's selection headaches have worsened following the Home Park success.

Di Matteo decided to end Jonas Olsson's ever-present league record as the Swede and 75th-minute sub Gonzalo Jara were given breathers in the third of the Baggies' four games inside ten days.

But although the Hawthorns boss will have both players fresh for Tuesday's home clash with Scunthorpe, he revealed he will be without the services of Marek Cech (hamstring) and Ishmael Miller (ankle) for at least a fortnight.

Jerome Thomas will also begin a four-match ban against The Iron after receiving his second straight red card of the season in stoppage time at Argyle.

"It's really difficult for players to play three times in six days and it was about their sixth game in 19 days," said Di Matteo.

"We have another game on Tuesday so we needed to rest players and utilise the squad, otherwise they will run out of fuel before the end of the season.

"Marek will be out for two weeks and Ish a bit longer than that - but they are not long-term injuries."

Simon Cox made his first start in six games against the Pilgrims and did not disappoint as he fired the winner and moved within one goal of notching double figures for the season.

"Coxy wasn't out of the team because he wasn't performing well," Di Matteo added.

"It was because we changed the shape of the team a little bit and then we started to win games.

"That was the reason."

PIC: MARCHING ORDERS...Thomas is shown a red card by referee Steve Tanner at Plymouth