Top referee Steve Tomlin has blown the whistle on Albion's plans to fight a second red card of the season for Nathan Jones.

Manager Mark McGhee has changed his mind and decided not to appeal against the Welsh midfielder's late dismissal at Swindon last Sunday.

The U-turn follows a training ground visit by Lewes-based Tomlin, a Football League referee.

He studied video footage of Jones' tackle on Matt Hewlett in the dying stages of Albion's 2-1 defeat at the County Ground.

McGhee said: "I still feel it would have been reasonable to appeal but, having had the referee look at it, he thought we were unlikely to get any joy."

Jones could now be sidelined for nearly a month by a four-match suspension, which starts on January 11.

He will definitely miss the trip to second-placed Queens Park Rangers on January 17, the visit to his old club Luton Town three days later and the showdown against leaders Plymouth Argyle at Withdean on January 31.

The other game Jones is forced to sit out depends on Barnsley's progress in the FA Cup.

They are due at Withdean on January 24, but that fixture will have to be rearranged if the Yorkshiremen, at home to Third Division Scunthorpe tomorrow, make it through to round four.

Jones would then also miss the away game at bottom club Wycombe Wanderers on February 7 unless Barnsley's visit was rescheduled before then.

McGhee said: "He has been an important part of what we are doing, but it gives somebody else an opportunity.

"John Piercy has come through and done really well and we could play him on the left."

Jones is available for the next match at home to Oldham a week tomorrow, but Richard Carpenter misses that one after accumulating five cautions.

Kerry Mayo and Piercy are on the brink of a similar fate as they have both collected four bookings.

Leftback Mayo, the only member of the squad to have played in every match this season, has been walking a disciplinary tightrope since having his name taken in the home draw against Port Vale on December 12.

Piercy has picked up yellow cards in each of the last three games against Swindon, Wycombe and Tranmere.