ONE of the most enduring clichés in football is that, when it comes to local derbies, the form book goes out of the window.

Tribal rivalry and passionate support are supposed to nullify ability, mental composure and tactical superiority amid the hurly-burly of total commitment and physical challenge.

Yet for me, derby games against Everton in recent years have followed a fairly predictable pattern: pre-match, David Moyes bemoans their lack of money and how he’s achieved miracles despite it; then Liverpool win; and afterwards Evertonians nurse a burning sense of injustice.

The line emerging from Goodison after the match, and swallowed by many commentators, was that Martin Atkinson’s decision to send off Jack Rodwell had removed all possibility of Everton being able to get anything out of a game which, as they had held their own for the first 20 minutes, they were surely destined to win. And yet, when a similar misfortune occurred to Liverpool at White Hart Lane, it was widely agreed that this made no difference to the outcome, despite the fact that this game was still at 0-1 until our second dismissal just after the hour.

And what happened to that other adage that it’s sometimes harder to play against 10 men than 11?

Of course no side has ever won a match after going a man down have they?

David Moyes may well have a right to be incensed at Atkinson’s interpretation of Rodwell’s challenge, but a manager’s ability to ignore another, balancing factor should never be under-estimated.