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Some West Brom supporters slate defender as Baggies lose to Villa

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West Bromwich Albion will have to overturn a one-goal deficit if they are to reach the Championship play-off final.

The Baggies fell to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa in the first leg at Villa Park.

Albion went ahead in the match thanks to Dwight Gayle’s 24th strike of the season, but two late goals within three minutes of each other have handed Villa the advantage ahead of next week’s return leg.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

West Brom will have to contest next Tuesday’s game at the Hawthorns without Gayle, who was sent off by referee Graham Scott for sliding in late on goalkeeper Jed Steer, earning him a second yellow card.

Despite the defeat, many Baggies supporters felt confident their side can turn the tie around next week, although there wasn’t too much love for full-back Kieran Gibbs, who struggled on the day.

West Brom fans react

Gibbs had a fairly quiet afternoon, but brought down Jack Grealish for Tammy Abraham to covert a penalty.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

Grealish received some criticism for the way he went down, but the former Arsenal defender was late and did not play the ball – and there was very little protest from the West Brom players.

A number of West Brom fans were unimpressed by Gibbs’ contributions on the day: