VAR drama at The Hawthorns as West Brom’s Matheus Pereira sent off for kicking out at Crystal Palace player

VAR took centre stage at The Hawthorns on Sunday as Matheus Pereira was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Crystal Palace’s Patrick Van Aanholt.

With the scores level at 1-1, referee Paul Tierney was told to check the monitor to review a potential red card for the West Brom player.

Referee Paul Tierney check the monitor at The Hawthorns

Matheus Pereira was shown a straight red card for his kick out on the Crystal Palace player

Pereira fell after a challenge by the Palace defender and then appeared to kick out at his opponent catching him in the stomach, with Van Aanholt himself going down.

The referee then made the decision to send off Pereira for the kick out on his opponent after a lengthy delay.

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Wilfried Zaha’s cross was turned into his own net by Darnell Furlong

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Conor Gallagher equalised for West Brom

The game was finely balanced at the point of the red card with both sides having scored in the opening 30 minutes.

Wilfried Zaha put Palace ahead after eight minutes. He spun Pereira from a free-kick and his low cross was turned into his own net by Darnell Furlong.

The Baggies levelled after 30 minutes when Conor Gallagher – who almost joined Palace in the summer – swept in brilliantly from Furlong’s cross from 16 yards.

The red card was shown just four minutes later but the Eagles were yet to make their man advantage count before half-time.