YOU might say Wanderers were due some good luck – and I think they got it against Brentford the other night.

I think a less-experienced referee than Carl Boyeson would have reached for his red card when Mark Davies went clattering into Toumani Diagouraga in the first half.

And I also believe Josh Vela was a lucky boy, when he got away with a trip on Jake Bidwell – with the Brentford defender then getting a caution for simulation.

I’m gobsmacked at what is actually going on at that football club and, like most people in the town, wondering when it is all going to end.

But at least the players showed a bit of fight on Monday. Ben Amos played well and while they rode their luck a bit, I don’t begrudge Neil Lennon a bit of good fortune at last. I think he has earned it.

Referee Boyeson was very lenient only showing a yellow card to Davies. I don’t think there could have been any complaints if it had been red. And you could tell by the look on Davies’s face he knew he had done wrong. He was lucky the boy himself did nothing to inflame the situation and got up pretty quickly.

You wonder whether Carl will be marked down by his assessor for showing such tolerance. Sometimes it depends on who you get sat up in the stands, and whether he’s a real referee’s man.

He has refereed at that level for a while now, the players know him, and I think there is a degree of respect. He had a good game.

But I was surprised he cautioned Bidwell when he went sprawling in the penalty area in the first half – I would have left that one well alone.

I don’t think anyone could have complained if he had pointed to the spot, particularly after I had seen the replay. It was certainly more of a penalty than a yellow card.

The player and his team-mates didn’t make a fuss, so I think the easiest thing would have been to award a goal-kick and get on with it. Why bother bringing attention to yourself?

I don’t think Shola Ameobi’s claim for a penalty just before half time was valid. I think he should concentrate on putting his chances away rather than moaning at the moment.

Likewise for Gary Madine, who the cameras caught mouthing back at the manager. It’s a lack of respect, in my book.

I have said before I have serious reservations about what is going on at Bolton Wanderers and what might happen if they went down into League One.

It is a long way to drop and such a crying shame when you consider what a great club it had been up until relatively recently.

I am keeping my fingers crossed Neil can sort things out, start to climb the table, and that 2016 can be a much more successful year on the pitch.

***

PEOPLE are still moaning about how much added time Kevin Friend played at Bournemouth the other day, but they need to brush up on the laws of the game.

Five minutes and 32 seconds into time added on, Everton were 3-2 up and their supporters spilled onto the pitch celebrating a win.

But that came at a cost and three minutes later it was the Bournemouth end in elation as they managed to grab an equaliser.

Everton fans complained the game should have finished because the fourth official had shown five minutes of added time – but that is just the minimum amount. It is down to the referee’s discretion how much actually gets played.

All sorts of things can happen that could prolong the game – substitutions, injuries, cautions, or in this case, delays as they cleared the pitch. The referee stops his watch and has to add on the amount he feels is fair.

I also got asked quite a bit at the weekend about the advantage rule after Roger East’s management of the game between Manchester City and Southampton.

Referees are advised to give two or three seconds of advantage to the attacking side before they blow the whistle. Beyond that if someone makes a bad pass, then I’m afraid it’s tough luck – we’re not psychic.

I think a lot of fans feel East didn’t make very good use of the advantage rule as City went on to win the game 3-1.

I’m sad to say this will be my last column for now in The Bolton News.

I would like to say thanks to all the readers who have interacted with me on social media and those who have read my thoughts on a weekly basis for the last 18 months.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year.