Well, here we are fast approaching the time when we put the clocks back and the football season seems to have settled down nicely.

For officials it is still trial by TV and for me I’ve had a good two weeks, as both my games have been shown live on Sky and on each occasion I seem to have come through relatively unscathed.

Mr Ferguson had no complaints about the penalty I awarded for handball against Man United when they played Reading the other week, and last weekend Mr Warnock was too elated when Sheff United beat Middlesbrough to gain their first league win to pay too much attention to the officials.

However, some of my colleagues have not been as fortunate.
I think it’s fair to say the penalty given on Sunday for Spurs at home to Portsmouth was a little lucky.

Once again we saw how hard it is to spot a player who appears to ‘dive’ after a challenge to gain an unfair free kick or, as happened on Sunday, a penalty kick.

It’s easy for the viewing public to cast doubt over the referee’s ability, but should the team management not take some responsibility for their players’ actions and while looking to gain every possible advantage still impose a code of sportsmanship on their charges? Or is that me being too simplistic?

While we are in the position of ‘win at all costs’, teams, managers and spectators must accept that referees cannot get every decision spot on.

Now that I am off my soap box, this weekend sees a break in the fixtures as internationals take over and I find myself with no game.
Of the 17 Premier League referees, 10 are on the International Panel and it must be a good omen that the majority of those 10 will be officiating across Europe this weekend in Euro Championship qualifying matches, re-emphasising just how well English referees are thought of abroad.

I just hope none of them has to run the gauntlet of trial by TV.
See you in two weeks.