“I’m not a very popular man in high places and perhaps referees have been told to keep a close eye on my players.

“I feel Villa are being judged more by the fact that I’m the manager than by what they have actually done.

“I have praised and criticised referees in the past, and the two fines I had have not helped the clubs I’ve been with.

“It is a case of giving a person a bad name and it sticks.

“You have to remember that when I took over Villa were in a desperate position and it was obvious that our play had to be equally desperate to get results.

“But since we began to be consistently successful our tackling and general play has been less erratic.

“Of the 12 bookings [under Tommy Docherty in 12 games], I would say that only two have been for bad fouls. Four were for kicking the ball away after referees’ decisions and, on Saturday Micky Wright was booked for obstruction.

“This trouble is something we must try to overcome.

“Leeds got involved in it three years again but that is all forgotten now.”

Tommy Docherty.