West Brom full-back Taylor Gardner-Hickman has apologised to Nottingham Forest supporters after booting the ball into the crowd during Easter Monday’s clash.
Late in the first half, with Baggies frustration boiling over following a red card and a few Forest goals, the 20-year-old lashed the ball towards the supporters at the City Ground after he was penalised by the referee. He was booked for the incident, which sparked a mini melee between the two sets of players.
West Brom boss Steve Bruce said after the game, which finished 4-0 to the Reds, there was no malicious intent in Gardner-Hickman’s actions and that he would apologise. The full-back has now done so.
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Writing on Instagram, he said: “I would just like to apologise on the incident last night (Monday). I genuinely meant to kick the ball off of the advertising hoardings but unfortunately it hit the top of the board and went into the crowd. As I said it is not in my nature to kick a ball into the crowd, so again I apologise for how it seemed and I am so glad no one was hurt.”
Bruce had come to Gardner-Hickman’s defence in his post-match press conference, saying: "He's a young player, who's as genuine and honest as they come, and he's meant to kick the ball, I agree, in frustration against the advertising boards, and unfortunately, it's gone over the top.
"And, if it's hit somebody in the crowd, then we will apologise, and I'll get Tayls to make sure that whoever it was, if it did hit somebody, then we will get in touch to say that. I hope that he's okay.
"He wouldn't do anything malicious. He's a young kid caught up in the whole thing, and as I said, I think he's tried to bash the ball against the advertising board and, unfortunately, missed it.”
The victory saw Forest strengthen their grip on a top-six spot, and they only need to win two of their final games to ensure they finish in the play-offs at the very least. They could still mount a challenge to Bournemouth in the automatic promotion places, with the gap currently standing at seven points.
