Quote Originally Posted by John2 View Post
What a fantastic result, and given the context of the game - so important - and to come back to beat them with 10 men made it all the sweeter.

I feel like a lonely voice saying this, and the camera angle I saw on iFollow obscured it to the point it was hard to tell - but when Smith got up my gut reaction when I saw his body motion that he had pushed his head forward onto their player was "I hope that's not a sending off".

I was annoyed because its just such a stupid thing to do, because even if you do it at a slow speed its technically a headbut, and whilst it shouldn't be a sending off unless its a 'proper' one with force, it forces the referee into making a decision. On this occasion he made the wrong decision, but Smith has to take some responsibility as well (at least from the angle that I saw). If you press your head against an opponent you're exposing yourself to a self inflicted risk of getting sent off. The simple solution is just don't do it, though I can completely understand his frustration.
I agree with that. Smith did push his head forward. In reality theres no way it should've been a red but, as alluded to, it gives the weak ref something to think about. The card couldnt come out quick enough. What we, and referrees, must understand is that adrenaline will have been coarsing through Smudge's veins and its unreasonable to expect players to act as though they're having an afternoon tea party with the Royal family in such moments. The ref should have taken both players to one side, told them to calm down and possibly (only possibly) shown a yellow card each.

I doubt the red card would be overturned on appeal as there is movement from Smith's head towards their player. Plus of course theres rule 6, paragraph 3 of the EFL appeals procedure, which reads; "Its RUFC so feck right off"