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We withstood an early spell of pressure and were fortunate still to be level after five minutes. The remainder of the half saw little football from either side. Dubourdeau looked comfortable and confident in coming for crosses and he had no real saves to make.
A perfect start to the second half saw a delighted Ferguson open his account. Sengewald was booked shortly after for persistent fouling and Pearson joined him for mouthing off once to often. Daniel's main role in the game seemed to be the marking Paatelainen and he had succeeded in preventing the Finn from being a threat.
One up and cruising. Then it all went horribly wrong.
A rash late challenge prompted a second yellow and within two minutes Mixu had climbed above Cowan and headed home to bring the scores level. Lehmann moved back to defence but before he settled in we lost the second goal.
The understandable frustration of the ten was not controlled and in a spectacular two minute spell we were reduced to eight men. Pearson had a second booking for a stupid challenge and Partridge was awarded a straight red in the fracas which followed.
McFadden (on the park for two minutes) could have been shown an immediate red card for a stamp on Townsley but the referee bottled the decision and showed yellow.
DuBourdeau escaped a caution as he conceded the penalty and the referee saved any further blushes by blowing the final whistle a shade before ninety minutes had elapsed.
As a result of the indiscipline our crisis has deepened.
We are still not halfway through the season and there remains ample time for a recovery but the players must realise that they are no use to the club when watching from the sidelines while serving suspensions. Maybe some of the hot-heads should take a good look in the mirror and learn some relaxation techniques.
Competing is one thing, shooting yourself in the foot is quite another.