Cahill's card counts

Last updated : 01 October 2008 By Les Roberts

Everton's Australian midfielder was arguably one of just two players who actually put in a shift against our loveable neighbours, the other being Tony Hibbert, and his desire to win the ball, and nothing else, ended up getting him sent off.

Though there was some confusion at the time as to whether Cahill had been shown a yellow for the foul and one for dissent, it's since become clear that Riley gave the midfielder a straight red card for his tackle on Xabi Alonso.

Hence the Blues were able to appeal the decision and hence Cahill must now miss the next three league games.

Cahill's challenge on Alonso was certainly over-zealous but it was far from dangerous and Mike Riley clearly realised that we hadn't been shown our customary derby-day red card so thought he'd put that right.

At this juncture I'd normally say that Riley's decision effectively killed off the game as we had no chance of getting back into when down to ten men, and we were just about to bombard Liverpool's goal for the last ten minutes.

That would just be a lie though as the game was dead and buried and we were just shite!

But thanks to that ridiculous decision, and the even more ridiculous decision by the FA to uphold it, we will now be missing Cahill for the games against Newcastle, Arsenal and Man United…it never bloody rains!

In other Everton midfielder related news, Steven Pienaar will not face any charges from Merseyside police following his arrest on suspicion of assault.

The 26-year-old midfielder handed himself into a Liverpool police station on Sunday but police yesterday confirmed that he has no case to answer.

And, if he's capable of being suspected of assaulting someone, does this mean that he's fit enough to play now? Didn't think so…