LEICESTER boss Martin O'Neill believes Uriah Rennie's inexperience added to the rash of red cards at the Reebok Stadium.

The Sheffield referee's two dismissals on Saturday took the new stadium's list of shame to nine in just 15 Premiership games.

Wanderers' skipper Gudni Bergsson was sent off for a 'professional foul' on Emile Heskey and Foxes' full-back Rob Ullathorne followed for lashing out at Per Frandsen.

They are statistics O'Neill believes wouldn't have been so dramatic if Mr Rennie - who had previously issued just one red card this season - had been older and wiser. "He's a new ref and he has a lot to learn," he complained.

Wanderers had no argument with Bergsson's dismissal, in fact Colin Todd believed both red cards were justified under the rules, but O'Neill felt Mr Rennie had set out to redress the balance after showing Bergsson the red card in the 27th minute.

"I didn't see them (Bolton) complaining about their man being sent off," he said. "He was the last man and had to go. But my concern was that he (the referee) spent a lot of time then trying to level things up.

"I didn't see why our player was sent off. I just saw a gathering of players and he went honestly for the ball. The next thing there was a skirmish and I thought he was going to be booked.

"When I saw the red card I couldn't believe it. But rather than asking players what happened I'd prefer to see the video and decide for myself."

Todd accepted Mr Rennie's interpretation of the rules. "Gudni was the last man and he brought the boy down," he said. "The other one was nothing to do with me but the letter of the law is there for all to see."

Bergsson will miss three games - at home to Blackburn Rovers (April 11) and Leeds United (April 18) and away to Derby (April 13). His only comment on the dismissal was "It was worth the three points!"

Previous Reebok red cards: Sept 20 v Man Utd - Nathan Blake and Gary Pallister (the United man's was rescinded on appeal); Oct 4 v Aston Villa - Andy Todd and Stan Collymore; Nov 1 v Liverpool - Robbie Fowler; Jan 30 v Southampton - Francis Benali; Feb 21 v West Ham - John Hartson.

Wanderers have also had Gerry Taggart sent off at West Ham, Per Frandsen at Middlesbrough (Coca-Cola Cup) and Alan Thompson at Blackburn.

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