THERE were heroes and villains at Goodison on Saturday and it wasn't difficult to identify them.

Stephane Henchoz was a Rovers hero for defying illness to turn in an excellent performance at the back but Martin Dahlin came into the opposite category.

For, while the vast majority left the ground believing the Swede had been sent off for an elbow on Marco Materazzi, referee Mike Riley confirmed later it was for spitting.

Even Roy Hodgson seemed to be in the dark, saying: "They both went up with their elbows and unfortunately Martin caught the other lad.

But I don't know what the linesman was signalling for. I think they were having a bit of a go at each other before."

That incident happened just before Tim Flowers had taken a free kick, following treatment after a collision with Duncan Ferguson, and was spotted by a linesman. Riley said afterwards: "The game was stopped for a foul and the spitting incident took place then. He was spitting at whichever player was closest to him."

Everton's Materazzi said he was the target, claiming Dahlin had spat during the delay and then caused him a swollen eye when play restarted."

There was obvious confusion but the linesman was already flagging on the halfway line as Flowers took the free kick. From it, Dahlin and Materazzi clashed in the air and the referee blew.

It was only then that he finally noticed his flag-waving assistant.

After a lengthy chat, he called over Dahlin and Rovers skipper Tim Sherwood and showed the Swede the red card.

If Dahlin was guilty of spitting he had to go but, in other respects, the referee's performance added to the anguish of an awful afternoon.

Hodgson said: "It seemed that all our players had to do was touch the ball three yards or complain for a yellow card.

"The yellow cards were like confetti at a wedding. Unfortunately, they all went to the yellows."

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