His team may have been reduced to ten men early into the second half but Neil Warnock believed it was a decision that actually proved beneficial to his team.

"When Victor Moses got sent off on the hour mark I think it helped us win the game. It galvanised us, it gave us a bit more urgency and we looked a lot more threatening."

While in hindsight the sending off appeared to help, Warnock struggled to comprehend how the academy graduate was cautioned either side of half-time.

"He got it completely wrong did the referee. Both decisions were wrong when you look at the video. He (Victor) is caught on the first one on the edge of the box and the referee's position is very poor, he could not have seen that properly. He guessed really with the reaction or whatever and the second one he slid in and got the ball with the base of his foot.

"Nigel Clough knew it wasn't a sending off and the referee coudn't be 100% certain from there, if you are in doubt then you don't give it but I don't understand these decisions sometimes.

"In contrast I think he is one of the best refs, but he has had a bad week, including making Millwall retake the penalties, so not a good week really."

Finnish international Shefki Kuqi clinched the game with his decisive goal which was well deserved according to Warnock.

"I think Shefki worked his socks off today and he got his reward and the goal he scored was one of those where he does not have to think, just reaction, he is a menace."

With the score-line goalless at half-time Warnock conceded that the front three were not impressing up against his other eight players on the pitch.

"I had to have a word with Victor Moses, Anthony Stokes and Rui Fonte during the interval, I thought they were very poor and I told them so at half-time. I thought the rest of the team were superb, but you can't play football without 11 lads playing and we played with eight men in the first half.  However, overall I am pleased and it is about getting over that finishing line."