GARY Hart has hit out at the first red card of his Albion career.

The young striker was dismissed for two bookable offences towards the end of last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Exeter.

Hart was cautioned for retaliating to a 78th-minute foul by Chris Holloway. He received his marching orders from referee Andy D'Urso four minutes later following a challenge on Lee Baddeley.

Albion's nine-goal marksman reckons BOTH decisions were wrong. "I don't think I deserved to be sent off, especially because of the first one," he protested.

"Their player nearly broke my leg from behind and I think I've got a right to react in those circumstances. I did not react that badly to warrant a booking.

"As for the second one I went in from the side and I thought I connected with the ball. The ref reckoned I went straight in from behind, so that's why he sent me off.

"I didn't know I was going to go because I didn't expect to be booked for that one either. Their player shook my hand and said there was no intent."

Hart is angry to be missing out on Albion's next home match against Leyton Orient, where he had an unhappy trial spell earlier in his career.

The Essex-based striker now aims to take out his frustration against another club who snubbed him.

"I went to Southend for a trial when I was really young, but it was only for one game," he revealed.

"I've got buses full of people coming to watch on Saturday, including my brother and all his friends."

Boss Jeff Wood won't be taking any further action against Hart or Ian Culverhouse and Paul Sturgess. They are also both banned from the Orient match after first-half cautions against Exeter.

"I don't think any of them should have been booked," Wood said. "I couldn't believe Harty's. Richie Barker was rolling about on the ground with one of their fellas in front of the linesman in the first half, yet the officials did nothing."

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