Derby manager Jim Smith criticised referee Keith Burge after the official dismissed Italian winger Stefano Eranio during Derby's 0-0 Premiership stalemate at Newcastle.

The talented Italian was dismissed 10 minutes from time, after picking up his second yellow card in a match which was anything but dirty or controversial.

The draw keeps Derby in seventh place with 28 points from 18 games. Newcastle are ninth, two points behind but having played a game less.

Former Newcastle boss Smith said: "I can't explain the sending-off. Eranio was pushed twice and then pushed in the head also and I couldn't believe why he was sent off.

"The referee was going to give him a yellow card and then suddenly he realised he'd already shown him the yellow card earlier in the game. I don't know why he sent off the player."

Eranio, who had been booked 16 minutes earlier, clashed with Newcastle's Belgian international defender Philippe Albert. Then there seemed to be an altercation between the two, as Albert helped the Italian back to his feet.

The Newcastle man was also shown a yellow card and Eranio got his marching orders for what was an innocuous incident.

Overall, though, Smith was delighted with his team's performance and with the fact that they managed to keep a clean sheet, despite missing first choice defenders Jacob Laursen, Igor Stimac and Christian Dailly. The Rams had conceded a total of 15 goals in their previous four away games at Leeds, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bolton.

"Obviously I was very pleased, particularly in the light of our recent away performances," said Smith.

"To get a clean sheet was particularly important, and I thought we did remarkably well at the back,"

Smith's opposite number Kenny Dalglish was unusually forthright in criticising his team - and let actions speak louder than words by sending the full line-up out for an extra training session just 10 minutes after the final whistle.

"It was a poor performance and in fact we were fortunate to come away with a point - and in the first half they were the better side," said Dalglish.

"It's true we've got to give them a lot of the credit but clearly we contributed to our own downfall as much as their performance thwarted us."

Dalglish was unable to pick his injured captain Rob Lee tonight and said: "We thought he'd be fit tonight, but he had a bit of trouble with his calf at the last minute and we'll just have to see how it reacts between now and Sunday's game with Manchester United."

Faustino Asprilla, Newcastle's Colombian World Cup star was less than impressive, and Dalglish said: "Tino's had four games now and should be getting close to match fitness. That's all I can say."
 

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