Hodgson defends Tamas over Vaughan ´elbow´

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has defended centre back Gabriel Tamas over an incident with Norwich striker James Vaughan on Sunday.

Tamas appeared to catch Vaughan with an elbow in stoppage time in the Baggies’ 1-0 win at Carrow Road.

Vaughan, who was flattened with blood coming from his mouth after the clash, was taken to hospital suffering from a serious facial injury.

But Hodgson backed the Romanian defender, claiming any contact was accidental.

On the clash, which could yet result in retrospective disciplinary action from the Football Association, Hodgson said: “I looked at it, and as he turns, Tamas catches him with his elbow, but I am 100 per cent convinced it is unintentional.

“It was unfortunate, but it does not make it any better for Vaughan whether you have got caught intentionally or accidentally – it is still a painful blow.”

Norwich boss Paul Lambert was angry after the match, especially as referee Mark Halsey missed the clash.

Lambert said: “James has gone to see the plastic surgeon at the minute, and it is a bad one. It has gone straight through the lip and they can’t just stitch it up, the specialist has got to look at it.”

“He had got a really nasty gash in his upper lip, which will need a bit of work on it.”

Lambert said he believed Tamas deserved a red card for the contact and the Canaries a penalty.

“I think it was a penalty. I have seen it on tape and he has caught him. It is not great, that is for sure,” Lambert said.

“The big moments in games you have got to get right and more often than not, we never got that big moment this afternoon.”

“The penalty given against us was pretty soft, considering what happened to James.”