The Seagulls' disgraced top scorer faces an automatic three-match ban and a club fine following a late red card at Cheltenham.

Freeman was sent-off for stamping on Mike Duff deep into stoppage time in Saturday's 0-0 draw.

Adams said: "Darren is a silly boy. That won't be tolerated. There was no need for it, especially so late in the game.

"He will be disciplined by me. We have a code of conduct and anybody who steps out of line will be dealt with."

Freeman is available for Saturday's FA Cup first round tie at Peterborough and the League trip to Southend three days later.

But he will be ruled out of the home game against Hartlepool on November 6 and the trip to Macclesfield on November 14.

He will also miss either a replay against Peterborough, the second round of the FA Cup on November 20 or Lincoln's visit on November 23.

Freeman's disciplinary problems don't end there. When he returns he will still be a booking away from a one-match suspension.

Cheltenham were also reduced to ten men.

They had Neil Grayson sent-off early in the second half for a second bookable offence when he clattered into Andy Crosby.

Crosby limped off shortly after with a hamstring injury and will definitely miss the Peterborough tie. He expects to be sidelined for up to four weeks.

Albion remain in the play-off zone after extending their record of losing just one away League match this season.

But Adams admitted they should have come home with maximum reward given their numerical superiority for much of the afternoon.

He said: "When they were reduced to ten men so early in the second half we should have won. Our forward play did not warrant a goal. We flattered to deceive."

More than 1,400 Albion fans made the trip to Whaddon Road and kick-off had to be delayed because of crowd congestion.

But one of the few bright spots they witnessed in a dour first half was a spectacular rainbow over Cheltenham racecourse.

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