It may not have been the most politically correct way to put it but you knew what Dundee”s Craig McKeown was getting at as he reflected on the red-card rumpus at Dens Park.
A sustained spell of heroics at the back, led by McKeown and fellow central defender Rhys Weston, enabled the Dark Blues to clamber over the line with a 1-0 win over Queen of the South on Saturday.
Clinched by Gary Harkins’ sublime set-piece strike on 23 minutes, this opening day of the league season victory was certainly hard-earned, with Dundee playing the final 16 minutes with only nine men.
It was a particularly miserable occasion for Netan Sansara, the left-back signed for a month on the morning of the game, while Nicky Riley’s afternoon wasn’t much more enjoyable.
Sansara was left wondering if he had blown his chance of securing a more permanent contract after conceding a penalty, the offence of holding on to Paul Burns earning a booking.
He must have been relieved when Derek Holmes’ kick was saved by Rab Douglas but Sansara was then cautioned a second time for dissent on 71 minutes and off he went.
Riley joined him in the dressing room just three minutes later, sent packing by referee Steve O’Reilly for showing his studs in a challenge on Danny Carmichael to go with an earlier yellow card for a foul on Bob Harris.
It all left McKeown wondering whether there would eventually be any physical element left in the sport.
“People compare rugby and football and say football is a girls’ sport,” he said, perhaps underestimating the number of females who partake in either activity.
“It is actually heading that way because you can’t touch anyone now without it being a foul, and there is this culture that fouls automatically mean bookings.
“You can actually win the ball these days but still give away a foul and be booked for it.
“For me, Nicky Riley’s one was not a sending-off offence.
“He is a strong guy and he went in on someone who is half his height.
“He (Carmichael) is just a young boy and he had an excellent game-he will be a good player for Queens-but he is new to senior football and went down with a wee scream.
“We are not blaming him but when things like that happen refs are always quick to act.
“This kind of thing always happens at the start of the season.”
McKeown also lamented the inability to discuss matters with the match officials during play, as discovered by Sansara who claimed to be merely querying a decision at his second booking.
“You can’t talk to referees now,” he said.
“You should be able to because they are just a gentleman on the park but you can’t have a conversation with them.
“You can even get booked for trying to speak to refs now. You don’t even have to swear at them, all you need to do it ask a question.
“There were a couple of times some of our boys wanted an explanation because we didn’t know what happened with the first red card.
“We were like, ‘Whoa, time out a minute, what’s happened here?’ But you can’t talk to them.
“I felt sorry for Netan because he had a fantastic game.
“He has come here as a trialist and was fully committed to the team. I spoke to him in the dressing-room and he says he didn’t say anything to the linesman.
“Hopefully, it won’t count against him because he looked a good player.
“He is very athletic and the manager seemed happy with him.”
The signs are encouraging for Sansara, with manager Gordon Chisholm highlighting the positives of what was a difficult debut.
“We are still not clear what has happened with Netan, whether it was something he did or said,” added Chisholm.
“Obviously he is really disappointed at giving away a penalty and being sent off.
“That spoiled a good day for him because he played well.
“He is just a young boy and has lots of potential. Rhys Weston played with him at Walsall and other people I know down south have recommended him.
“Also, I didn’t see a booking for Nicky Riley, never mind a sending-off.
“We didn’t play great but we showed the desire and application I have been telling the players about all summer. So that pleased me.
“It is great to get a win on the first day of the season and we will look to build from here.”
Doonhamers manager Kenny Brannigan declined the opportunity to speak to the media, sending out player-coach Neil Scally instead.
“It is only the result that is disappointing because over the course of the game we probably created the better of the chances,” said Scally.
“To be fair there weren’t many gilt-edged chances apart from the penalty.
“The boys are gutted because they put a lot into the game.”