WANDERERS’ last experience of Premier League referee Chris Foy may not have been a pleasant one as relegation was confirmed at Stoke last May, but Dougie Freedman praised his display on Saturday.

The St Helens official took charge of what was expected to be a feisty Lancashire derby in a re-hot atmosphere.

But he used common sense to let the game flow, only halting play for fouls that could not be ignored.

Foy issued just three yellow cards on the day, one to Wanderers to Zat Knight for a foul outside the box that could easily have been red with some officials.

It was a sensible display from a top-flight referee that Freedman was quick to commend.

The Bolton boss said: “I thought Chris was excellent from start to finish.

“He went about his business in the right way without fuss.”