Reading manager, Brian McDermott, and player Jay Tabb are both absolutely convinced that Tabb was pulled down in the Norwich penalty area by David Fox. Yet the referee felt it was a fair challenge. Serve them right.
The reverse fixture last November resulted in a very lucky draw as City failed to regroup after Grant Holt was shown a straight red card. Becasue Ian Harte overdid the alleged pain from a late tackle that convinced Michael Oliver, the young Select List referee that he was had been caught badly.
Korey Smit was brought down so viciously by Jem Karacan, the receiver of a straight red at Carrow Road for a foul on David Fox. Korey Smith needed treatment for that foul, but Karachan wasn't even booked at the time.
While Korey Smith underwent treatment Paul Lambert was ordered to the stands for what he probably had to say to what must be the single worst Select Referee there is, unable to control even a top level Championship encounter.
With Norwich City tempers still frayed, Lambert's assistant, Gary Karsa was also ordered from the touchline.
After such a game there was hardly any wonder at the hostile reception Reading, and particularly Ian Harte received.
So February's game was, for Norwich City at least, about getting goals on the board and shutting out Reading. Reading arrived intent to carry on where they left off. Players dropping like lead weights every time they were skinned, and conning the ref.
Waving like people drowning and fooling the linesmen into thinking Norwich players were offside, even when they weren't.
Going down to a shoulder charge and rolling about as if David had hit them instead of Goliath, again conning the ref but not the linesman immediately in front of them.
Things were so bad that Reading soon had the Lower Barclay singing at them the Arsenal song...
"Same old Reading, Always Cheating".
If Tabb was brought down with an iffy shout, it was probably that the referee had had enough of the cons, the cheats the rolling around in agony, only to get up and run around as though nothing had happened.
Cheats don't prosper, Reading...