Alpha1886

Smith deliberately and violently blooters the ball point blank range into Seedoorf who is lying defenceless on the ground after being fouled by Smith well after Madden has blown for a foul. That's not being hard - that's the act of a coward/thug. Should have been red for violent conduct by itself. Seedorf jumps up to confront Smith as anyone would and puts his hands on Smith's throat while Smith is aggressively mocking him. Then Smith pushes his hand into Seedorf's face which is another straight red offence. All this happens right in front of referee, assistant referee and fourth official. So sum of their 3 brains and competence equals SFA. Although maybe they took into account Levein's input.

So referee, assistant referee and fourth official who were all close to the incident and in communication with one another all got it wrong. Will they be demoted? IMO Carroll tackled with wrong leg (because he is naturally left footed) and therefore mistimed it. Nothing sinister. End of.

So how do they work? Do they watch every second of every game? if so how? Please enlighten.

We couldn't make game. Avoided score and watched game 'live' on Alba. Still ended up screaming at ref. Awarded 22 fouls to Dundee and 11 to us. Booked 1 of them (guess who?) and 3 of ours. Fed up that refs do not have to answer to anyone and get well paid for it. ( Maybe Lennon is right for once and refs should be sent off (although I don't recall him having a go at same ref, I think, when he gave Hibs penalty and booked Tait for diving in 2-2 game at Easter Road this season.)) Agree the game was of a poor standard but that can be down to approach of other team and us not being good enough to raise our game to a higher level. But thought we more than cancelled out Dundee and the movement for the goal was at least decent. Their main threat (apart from their right winger) came from free-kicks (see above) and corner kicks which we dealt with fairly well, down to our organisation and concentration (and Carson coming for crosses.) Sympathy for Ciftci. We couldn't seem to get him into game in right area of park. To me we want him with ball at his feet in final third of the park where he's effective. Think he gets frustrated when not involved and is actually trying too hard to make things happen by dropping too deep - not just at Dundee, also against Killie. Although our style of play also asks our forwards to track back. Watching him closely against Killie it's not lack of effort - against Accies he was part of the pressing that led to own goal and he won the ball to make second goal against Ross County but both times in final third. Agree that Bowman was more effective when he came on but that may have been down to how both games developed. And I was ready to put bet on that ref was going to send Ciftci off so it was the right move to sub him.