Striker Andy Cole and midfielder Pape Bouba Diop will be "heavily fined" by Fulham after their dismissals in Saturday's stormy 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

Cole and Senegal international Diop were red-carded together with West Brom's Neil Clement and the English Football Association yesterday announced a series of misconduct charges relating to the Premiership game.

"Having participated at the highest levels of the game, Pape Bouba and Andrew should have known better than to respond unlawfully to the provocations to which they were apparently subjected by certain West Bromwich Albion players," Fulham said in a statement.

"Violent conduct, whether provoked or otherwise, is totally unacceptable to Fulham Football Club and both players are to be heavily fined by the club for their misbehaviour."

No details of the fines were given. Normally clubs can only dock players a maximum of two weeks' wages under an agreement with the players' union.

The FA will hold a disciplinary hearing on October 6th and has the power to dish out further punishment.

Cole, who appeared to exchange punches with Clement, faces the heaviest sanctions after being charged with using abusive language to an official and violent conduct.

Diop was also sent off for violent conduct and like former England international Cole, he faces an automatic three-match ban. But the Senegalese was not charged with the offence by the FA so, unlike Cole, his punishment cannot be increased.

Fulham face two charges: failing to control their players and ensure Diop left the field properly after his red card.

In yesterday's statement the club said it "does not accept all of the charges" brought against it. Fulham and Cole have 14 days to appeal.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman has also been charged with misconduct over comments he made about the referee after the 3-0 home defeat by Arsenal on September 11th.

Fulham are believed to have brought in lawyers for advice on the best way to fight the mass of FA disciplinary charges.

Fulham could be hit with a maximum fine of £250,000 after referee Mike Dean reported the whole team for what he called continual harassment.

The official said: "It seemed to me that they went purposely, every time I gave a decision, to harass me throughout the game."

Meanwhile, Alex McLeish will take his Rangers team to his former club Aberdeen tonight with speculation on when, not if, he will be sacked. It was at Pittodrie that McLeish made his name as an outstanding defender under Alex Ferguson. He went on to make 77 appearances for Scotland. But in the current circumstances to be going back to the place he once called home will afford him no comfort at all.

Following this tie he takes his under-achieving team to Dundee at the weekend and then, the following Thursday, faces the return UEFA Cup match against the Portuguese minnows Maritimo, who have already embarrassed the club by winning the first leg 1-0. In this light a week tomorrow seems the day of destiny for McLeish. Conventional wisdom suggests he must win all three fixtures to survive.

It really has gone horribly wrong for Rangers since their treble 16 months ago when he could do no wrong. Now, it seems, he can do little right.