Allardyce 'Banging His Head Against A Brick Wall'?

Last updated : 19 September 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Picked up his card in the 50th minute, his fourth yellow card of the season, for a challenge on Derby County's Stephen Pearson ... and you could see the red mist in his eyes.

Everyone knows Smith is arguably the easiest player in the Premiership to 'wind up', and he refuses to change. And some say that was why Sir Alex Ferguson let him leave Old Trafford.

The booking infuriated Allardyce because he thought the player won the ball cleanly, but he does admit Smith walks a tightrope at times.

Smith is now just one yellow card away from an automatic one-game suspension.

Allardyce: "It might have been a fourth booking, but it certainly shouldn't have been.

"However, Alan has to calm down in terms of slide tackles, because even a good slide tackle now seems to result in a booking these days.

"It was right in front of me - it wasn't from the side or behind. It was straight in front and straight through the ball.

"You can't not hit the man when you play the ball, but referees seem to think those are yellow cards today, or they're told to give a yellow card, which is pretty sad.

"If he deserved to get booked for a rash tackle, then fine. But I didn't think it was."