MICHAEL Appleton has warned Jerome Thomas he must learn to curb his frustrations if he is to make the most of his talents after being red carded for the second time this season.

The Baggies first-team coach revealed the 26-year-old winger apologised after being given his marching orders for a stoppage-time lunge on Plymouth's David McNamee in Saturday's 1-0 win at Home Park.

And Thomas, who had never been sent-off before this season, will now serve a four-match ban after also seeing red in September's Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal.

Appleton admitted the former Charlton and Portsmouth midfielder was on the end of some rough treatment against the Pilgrims - but insisted he must learn to deal with it better.

"Jerome was apologetic for being sent off again, which you would expect any player to be," he said.

"It was the second time this season so the lad was gutted after the game because he is going to miss four games and he is a key player for the team.

"From that point of view he was disappointed but he probably felt a little bit hard done by because he had been caught two or three times - and they weren't great tackles on him.

"I think he just got a little bit frustrated and that tends to happen.

"But he needs to be able to deal with that in the future because he is a talented player and people are going to look to stop him by any means at times.

"I think he is well aware that that's a part of his game that could be a little bit better."