How a game progresses is usually down to how the referee performs from the outset, how the deals with tackles, how consistent he is. how he enforces the rules of the game, how he connects with his assistants etc. By not punishing early tackles by Crystal players (those on the opposite side of pitch would not have seen these offences) and then cautioning a Carrick player for a lesser offence after 15mins therefore set the tone for this encounter. What ensued was therefore hardly surprising, given the history of this meeting.