This situation is made worse by relentless demanding of ‘consistency’. So the beaks issue mandatory instructions that this situation is a yellow or that incident is a red, and refs must follow the instruction or they are downgraded. It means refs lose the confidence to make a call, and cannot shape the game, the way they should and must, they have diminishing latitude to apply common sense.

Pawlett’s yellow in Perth was another ridiculous booking that let to a red, Ojo’s was the same, but the ref has no choice. If you are playing any level of football the adrenaline is pumping and Ojo rightly took exception to a fan shoving him over the barrier but refs cannot act to keep a lid on situations that get out of hand. The club should ban the fan and the red should be rescinded. (If that’s possible?)

Butcher needs to have a long look at himself if wants to be part of this side, we can do without ****ebaggery like that.

On the plus side fabulous 3 points, this team have more than a bit about them all over the park.