Ronnie Wallwork will be walking a disciplinary tightrope for the next four games if he is to avoid a two-match suspension that could decimate their midfield.

The combative midfielder acquired his ninth booking of the campaign during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Birmingham for a late challenge on David Dunn, which leaves him on the cusp of a potentially damaging ban.

Wallwork is a vital cog in Bryan Robson's engine-room and he has transformed his own fortunes after critics rounded on him earlier in the season.

His form is pivotal to Albion's fortunes for the remainder of the campaign and with Nigel Quashie just two games into a five-match ban, Robson can ill-afford to lose another midfielder.

If Wallwork avoids a yellow card until after the crucial derby fixture at Villa on April 9 he will have successfully reached the amnesty for ten yellow cards.

And Robson has warned the former Manchester United midfielder he needs to tread carefully without impinging on his own aggressive style.

"I'm going to have a word with Ronnie about being more careful because we can't afford to lose him for two games," conceded Robson.

"He has been playing with aggression and I don't want to take anything away from his game.

"But n Saturday, he could have stepped away from the challenge that earned him a yellow card rather than kick David Dunn.

"Ronnie has an intelligent footballing brain and he should know when he can tackle and when he's being rash or not. It shouldn't affect his game at all."

However, Robson was gushing in his praise of the team's performance at St Andrew's and highlighted his five-man midfield as a major source of pride.

Wallwork tenaciously snapped at the heels of Blues players throughout while Junichi Inamoto proved he can operate in a more disciplined role when required.

Critics of a midfield quintet claim it is negative but Robson refutes such charges.

In fact, he is convinced it affords his more creative players licence to cause havoc against opponents while running from deep lying positions.

"We have got four attacking options with Kevin Campbell, Jan Kozak, Jonathan Greening and Diomansy Kamara. That is four players in your team who don't have a responsibility to sit behind the ball and not go forward.

"Kozak, Greening and Kamara have a licence to go wherever they want when we have the ball. The only ones who have to be more disciplined are Wallwork and Inamoto, who has to be more disciplined in his forward runs.

"The one player who has surprised me is Greening, as he joins in all over the front line. "He does his defensive duties really well too, so he performs well in that role.

"It also suits Kamara as well. Now he doesn't have to play with any real discipline. We just allow him to go and join in with the striker whenever he wants.

"Or he has the option of staying wide and taking people on."

Robson also lauded the impact of Kozak after a second consecutive starting appearance.

It is no coincidence that Albion's performance levels have increased dramatically since the inclusion of the 25-year-old international.

Kozak is on loan from Art-media Bratislava until the end of the season and after being afforded a settling in period by Robson, is now showing his qualities.

His passing ability and subtle movement is thriving in Albion's new formation and he has shown no signs of nerves after a baptism of fire against Chelsea and Birmingham.

Robson has already gone on record describing Kozak as 'the best finisher at the football club' which is lavish praise indeed considering the likes of Kanu and Zoltan Gera are at the Hawthorns.

"Kozak has a good football brain and he is a good passer of the ball. I am really pleased with him," said a visibly upbeat Robson.

"He has had a couple of high-pressure games to start with, which aren't the sort of games you can relax and enjoy yourself in. But he has got a good temperament and excellent technique.

"Playing off a lone front man was the way Kozak played for (Artmedia) Bratislava all the time. He scored a lot of goals in that role.

"He knows where to go and how to get on the ball."

Robson also confirmed that Paul Robinson's calf injury is not serious and the club are optimistic the inspirational full-back could be available for the visit of Manchester United on Saturday.