Chris Foy and Stuart Attwell do the DOGSO

The nation's worriers are howling with outrage this Sunday morning, not about Jeremy Clarkson's latest outburst, but about two refereeing decisions given at the expense of Newcastle and Bolton. In Newcastle's case, Chris Foy did not feel David Luiz deserved a red card when he brought down Ba about 10 yards outside the Newcastle area. In hindsight, and with the advantage of multiple video recordings, it appears Foy may have been mistaken, but there is no certainty. Foy felt the pass through to Ba had been too heavy and that it would have rolled through to the outrushing Cech. That, combined with the fact that a referee has a natural inclination not to send off players in the opening minutes, probably informed his split-second decision to spare Luiz a red. Not that the impetuous Chelsea defender really deserves it. He has proved himself an immature young man so far this season, costing his team a lot with poor decision-making and bad judgement. There is a little doubt about whether Ba would have reached the ball and perhaps that was enough to convince Foy to keep him on the field.

I do wish the so-called experts would think, just for a moment, before they convict the referee, who did not enjoy the benefits of technology to review the decision.

At White Hart Lane, Stuart Attwell made the opposite decision to Foy. He decided that Scott Parker - my player of the season by the way - would have had an obvious goal scoring opportunity if he had not been fouled just five yards inside the Bolton half by Gary Cahill. Owen Coyle ranted, but the only decision the referee really has to take is; "would the attacking player have a one-on-one chance against the goalkeeper?" And in this case, with the closest defender about 30 yards away, Parker most probably would have got to the goalkeeper before he could be closed down - hence the red card.Attwell should not worry too much about this decision: it was brave and correct.

At Wolves today, television commentators seemed to think that Sebastian Larsson should have been booked for diving in the penalty area. It was indeed a bizarre incident, Larsson was tapped on the shin by a Wolves defender, which qualifies - in this strange world of modern football - for a penalty. But instead of stumbling to the ground, he gave it the full swallow dive, swooping gracefully to the ground, arms and legs thrown out. It was a penalty, but if I had been Phil Dowd I'd also have been tempted to book him as well!