Strachan off for making a stand

Gordon Strachan was sent off by referee Steve Bennett last night for claiming that he knew the rules of the game better than the officials.

Strachan was dismissed in the 26th minute and had to be guided down the tunnel by the policeman he asked to intervene in a bizarre touchline incident. Strachan had been asked to sit down in the technical area by fourth official Steve Dunn because his coach Dennis Rofe was already standing.

Dunn and Strachan had a furious exchange and referee Bennett stopped the match. The Southampton manager then brought over a policeman to stand alongside him as he became involved in a row with Bennett who ordered him off.

Pointing and complaining, Strachan refused to go, this time arguing with Dunn again before the policeman took his arm and led him to the tunnel.

New rules allow two people to be standing in the technical area, and Strachan said: 'I will write a letter to the referee asking for an apology from the fourth official. I went to Philip Don's seminar where they discussed the new rules. I got sent off for knowing the rules.

'It is embarrassing when a manager knows the rules better than the fourth official. 'The reason I got the police involved was because I wanted to make sure that there was no bad language. The referee should have sent me home, straight to bed with no supper.'

The Southampton manager took his place in the directors' box and at least had the consolation of seeing his side win for the first time this season - in almost as much controversy.

Substitute Marian Pahars was adjudged to have been brought down by David Weir inside the box 20 minutes from the end, and could not believe it when Bennett pointed to the spot.

Bennett ignored the Everton protests and Latvian striker Pahars scored, but manager David Moyes said diplomatically: 'I've seen it on video and I'll let you make up your own minds.'

Strachan added: 'Everton deserved to win and I'm not sure if it was a penalty.' Everton were left to regret missing four chances, three of which fell to Tomasz Radzinski.

Put through by Kevin Campbell after 21 minutes, Radzinski produced a superb dummy inside the Southampton box but shot over from eight yards as keeper Paul Jones darted out. He could find no way past Jones after the break, first forcing him into a fine diving save and then seeing another effort rebound to Campbell who fired wide from 10 yards.