Red Card Decision Upsets Coleman

Last updated : 26 November 2006 By Sam
The Fulham defender was dismissed for fouling Reading striker Kevin Doyle in the box to concede a spot kick which the Irish striker duly converted himself.

Gallagher had no hesitation about showing the defender a straight red card and Pearce, to his credit, did little to contest the decision and headed straight for the tunnel.

"It was a penalty all day long, there are no complaints there, but Dermot Gallagher would have done himself the world of good if he'd used a bit of common sense," Coleman said after the 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.

"Does he have to punish us twice? I don't think so. I know what the letter of the law says, but I am sick of hearing ex-referees on the radio telling us to respect referees more to help them out.

"They can help themselves out a bit more in situations like that. I was disappointed with that and it reflected on the scoreline.

"There is always a grey area but and we have got to let the referee use a little bit of common sense and get a feel for the game, not for them to be robots.

"For a nasty challenge, he deserves to be sent off, but if someone mis-times their challenge then give the penalty but you don't have to send the player off as well."