If refs were paid by their performance then this man would be selling The Big Issue to fund his fare home.
In a game that needed controlling, Mr Messias was found more than wanting, in fact, at times, he looked positively lost.
Players were able to shove attackers off the ball, use their hands to block free kicks, elbow the opposition, shove the goalkeeper and feign injury.
The only time the ref attempted to assert himself was by being pedantic about the placement of the ball.
In the first half, as the sporting press watched and the fans attempted to guile the opposition, a firm hand was needed.
Instead, we had a limp wrist as the ref appeared to be scared of the situation and let the players play as they deemed fit. A player could claim a ball and get play brought back for carrying on with advantage, but should he be illegally brought down and lose it then the ref would indicate that the player dived.
Neither side benefited or bemoaned the lack of application of the law. Lazaridis was felled by a fruitless challenge and was awarded a free kick whilst the perpetrator walked free, moments later Cunningham fairly won the ball only to be booked, his “victim” rolling in agony until the magical and medicinal yellow card was shown. Tebs clearly cleared the ball over his own goal line but a goal kick was given.
Booked:
Cunningham (Birmingham)
Dabizas, Izzet. (Leicester)
Rating: 4/10