I think the ref not sending Powell off is to do with the directives the officials have. I really can't remember many instances of tackles that fall under the umbrella of dangerous contact or undue pressure actually resulting in red cards. The Ferres tackle on Gildart resulted in a sin bin too despite being very clearly a dangerous tackle. I think it's because in most cases those challenges have to be looked at in depth to judge whether the attacking player contributed, whether other defending players contributed etc. For that reason the guidance seems to be all dangerous contact is a sin bin and the match review panel look at it in more depth. I can see things changing in the near future though.

He seems much maligned by Wigan fans but I don't mind him in terms of his playing ability, but one thing I don't like is that over the years he only seems to pick up bans for the nasty, niggly stuff. Canonball tackles, chicken wing tackles, undue pressure and now what's likely to be a long ban for a crusher tackle. I don't like that about players. It's not as easily excusable as being banned for the odd high tackle.

I'm not questioning the intentions of LMS or his loyalty to his team mate commendable really, just that in the horror of the tackle to give him a yellow would have meant he'd have to send Powell off, and maybe the ref thought why spoil a good game completely as he'll get his come upence at the hearing, who knows

Sgt pepper I think you are defending the indefensible here. It was horrific to watch and clearly intentional. Bennison was already tackled. He quite intentionally picked him up off the floor to slam him back down. Whether he meant to do it as a crusher or not I don't know but he has form for bad tackles. He was trying to throw his weight around with a young lad and made himself look stupid. I don't care whether Peet says he is sorry and feels like he let the side and fans down because he did let everybody down. I hope he does feel like crap, not because we lost but for his shameful actions

Thankfully he's in a minority of one with his opinion on this.

Thought better of Powell, he's a good bloke and he seems rightfully disappointed with his actions.

I must admit, at the time I didn’t think much of it and rather bizarrely didn’t even think it was a yellow - likely down to the amount of pints consumed!!

Now I’ve watched it back. Well I’m amazed it wasn’t a red. He is certainly no grub and I don’t think he ever meant to cause any harm or put Bennison at risk, let’s just have that right here. But he got it badly wrong and fully deserves the ban inbound.

That then opens the door for O’Neill or even Harry Smith dependant on who Peet chooses in the halves. A huge opportunity for one of them, if not both, to prove once and for all they belong in this team.

I too love the physicality and the biff. Lord only knows how many times I’ve watched the Good Friday brawl at Knowsley Road on repeat this week but actively praising that kind of play that puts a persons mobility at risk? Speechless. No room for that in our game whatsoever. Thankfully the poster appears to be in a small minority of buffoons.

Let’s not mix up me criticising LMS here with me doing anything other than condemning the tackle but LMS runs in because he’s a grade A tit and he does things like that every week.

Poor tackle though and he’ll get some time sat down.

He may be that but I’ll be blunt here, if that was LMS on one of our young lads (or any other player) I’d fully expect someone, I’d not all, to run in as well. Horrific tackle and I can’t sit here and condemn LMS for running in to be honest

I dont think LMS threw a punch though, he just got Powell by the scruff of the neck and aggressively pushed him away. The only punching with the handbag fray afterwards I think was Partington but he failed to connect, Bateman also got involved because he's always there for the afters.

We certainly won’t ever get through a game LMS is involved in without a few handbags.

Anyway it’s not the point I guess, we all know he’s a plank and me criticising him takes away from the issue, which was the tackle.

There's no argument here. Everyone (bar 1 person for some inexplicable reason) thinks Powell deserves the ban that is undoubtedly coming his way.

On LMS, I too would be disappointed if our players didn't run in after a tackle like that. However that doesn't change the fact that it's supposed to be a clampdown issue with a no tolerance policy. He should have gone. Simple as that. Moore was poor yesterday on all issues including both being discussed here.

Powell will be be banned (rightly so) for Monday, the disciplinary panel meet either today or tomorrow.