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Di Matteo laments injuries

Image: Di Matteo: Squad shortage

Roberto Di Matteo was unhappy with the amount of injuries West Brom picked up during the draw against Reading.

Baggies' have growing injury list for league campaign

Roberto Di Matteo was unhappy with the amount of injuries West Brom picked up during the thrilling 2-2 draw against Reading in the FA Cup. The former Chelsea midfielder was nearly haunted by his past of netting in under a minute in the 1997 FA Cup final when Royals winger Jimmy Kebe opened the scoring for Reading in just seven seconds. The Baggies equalised through Robert Koren before Reading's Shane Long was sent off for a lunging tackle on Abdoulaye Meite, leaving the defender going off for treatment. West Brom's Youssouf Mulumbu also saw red after coming on for the injured Gonzalo Jara following a bad challenge. "I am sad today because we lost three players to injury and suspension and we could do without that," the Italian said. "Jara had to have five stitches, it was a very bad challenge, and we will have to wait and see about Meite."

Character

Despite the injuries, the Baggies showed character to cancel out Simon Church's 73rd minute goal, with a thundering strike from left-back Joe Mattock. His last-gasp goal means the fifth-round tie will be replayed at West Brom's Hawthorns ground in 10 days' time. However Di Matteo said they could do without another game during their promotion-chasing campaign to get back into the Premier League. "It's not part of the plan to have a replay as we have lots of games coming up but we are happy to be still in the cup," he said. "I said that we would love to have a cup run this season and we are still in it."

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