West Brom manager Tony Mowbray revealed skipper Curtis Davies will miss the remainder of the season after he limped out of Albion's defeat by Crystal Palace with a broken metatarsal.
The central defender, who turns 22 today, was injured in a seemingly innocuous challenge just before half-time, with his replacement Martin Albrechtsen lasting just two minutes before he was shown a straight red card for his last-man challenge on Michael Hughes.
The news of Davies' injury compounded a miserable night for Albion who crashed to defeat thanks to a last-minute strike from Lewis Grabban which condemned them to a third successive defeat.
Mowbray had seen his side take the lead through a Neil Clement free kick, only to trail at the break following a strike from Clinton Morrison and a Ben Watson penalty following Albrechtsen's sending off.
Kevin Phillips looked as though he had rescued a point for his side when he scored with 15 minutes remaining, and as Albion pushed for a winner they were hit on the break with Grabban shooting into an empty net with the last kick of the game.
Mowbray defended his decision to continue his team's attacking formation, even after they had claimed an equaliser.
"You've got to be brave to win football matches, and sometimes you do that at the expense of losing. I thought tonight was a classic example of that," he said.
"I would rather win football matches in that manner rather than sitting back and thinking what might have been.
"I understand I lay myself open for criticism for doing that but that is the way I want to play."
Palace manager Peter Taylor revealed he had not given up hope of reaching the play-offs.
"We need to win matches and we need other teams to stumble, which is happening," he said.
"I would think we would have to win at least six games and hope other teams stumble, if they do that then we have a chance."
