Doncaster had put up a good fight but once we finally broke the deadlock, that should have been that. The only way they got back into the tie was through some shambolic refereeing.
My sympathies go to Donny keeper Andy Warrington, who broke his leg in the collision with Nedum Onuoha, but there was no malice in the challenge and it was a complete accident.
In fact, Onuoha got the ball first and pulled his feet away so he didn't go in feet first - his feet were almost behind him by the time they collided. The lad did his best to avoid causing an injury to the keeper.
However, referee Graham Salisbury deemed it worthy of a straight red card. Within 30 mins of the end of the game, he acknowledged he had made a mistake but it's too late. We're out now!!
Donny got a lift from being a man up and the pressure told with a penalty awarded against Distin, from which the home side equalised. Distin did give the Donny striker a nudge but he barely touched him, and if if was for handball, Distin's offence was exactly the same as what a Donny defender did at the other end moments later after blocking a shot from the impressive Stephen Ireland - neither were deliberate.
Those decisions have cost us our place in this season's League Cup, and in other circumstances, it could have cost Pearce his job.
Therefore it's time to crack down. Referees need to have confidence in their own judgement but they must start realising the consequences of their mistakes.
This season has been littered with talk of appeals and rescinding, and it must stop. It gives referees the impression that if perhaps their decision is wrong, it'll get sorted out later anyway, only it won't as although the player may no longer be banned, the game will already be won and lost.
I accept mistakes will be made so the FA need to take responsilibity rather than leaving the onus on club's lodging an appeal. Salisbury has accepted he got it wrong but still City must attend an appeal hearing - a waste of time, money and effort.
The FA knows it was wrong, so sort it!!