"There's no place for it in football. It's hard enough as it is trying to stay on the pitch - you don't want players getting sent off for trivial things." Stubbs was unhappy with Dowd's handling of the game and was frustrated Everton were unable to take the initiative after Steven Gerrard's early sending off. He said: "We never really made our one-man advantage count but the referee was trying to even that up as quick as he could. "If Andy van der Meyde deserved to be sent off then Luis Garcia deserved to be sent off in the first half for elbowing Kevin Kilbane. "You could see it from the amount of fouls he was giving. Every time the ball went up to Crouch the fans were on their feet. "You could sense it - it was one of those games where he was booking people for nothing. "Against Harry Kewell I got booked for holding my ground in the box and so did he. "It was a bit pathetic and petty and he made it that game to be honest." The nature in which Everton conceded their first two goals - either side of the break - also disappointed Stubbs as they came at crucial times. He said: "I thought we were in control until half-time, but we gave a goal away from a set piece which was disappointing and gave us a mountain to climb. "It wasn't a great game, passing-wise. Liverpool look to Crouch as quickly as they can. "It's disappointing for us because we never really put them under pressure." He added: "It's a blow but it's obviously a bigger blow because it's our local rivals but I actually don't think that there was a lot in the game between the two teams. "Liverpool obviously played better than us but when you put the game down to chances, there was a lot created. "Liverpool's first two goals, we were very disappointed in the way they were given away. "The third goal by Harry Kewell was a great strike but that goal aside, we've more or less gifted them two goals." Stubbs believed that the first goal perhaps proved more of a spur to Liverpool than a blow to Everton as Liverpool had not looked too dangerous before Phil Neville headed into his own net. He said: "I think the goal before half-time made a big difference to them, more so, psychologically." | 
