It was the second major decision to go against Villa at Wembley this season, following the incident in their Carling Cup final defeat at the hands of Manchester United that saw Nemanja Vidic avoid a red card when he conceded a penalty - and understandably O'Neill reacted furiously on the touchline after being denied again.
Liverpool needed a break to get back into the game and they got it via a penalty and a red card for Everton's Hibbert.
Referee Dowd did not punish Vidic further, despite the fact that he was the last United defender and flirted with a red card, and Milner steered the penalty coolly past Tomasz Kuszczak.
The referee had no other choice but to award a penalty and show a red card to Holland in the 73rd minute of a pulsating north-east derby.
Speaking to BBC Scotland after the match Lennon said the officials "would probably have their story already" when asked about a denied penalty appeal and a red card issued to midfielder Joe Ledley.
Just as the Brazilian-born striker shaped to shoot, he was brought down by Distin, leaving the referee no option but to give a penalty and show the Frenchman a red card.
Sheridan also defended goalkeeper Alan Martin who escaped a red card after he brought down Arnison for Workington's penalty.
The visitors were immediately on the back foot when Shaun Derry was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ashley Young in conceding a penalty.
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Dodds was lucky to escape a red card when he deliberately felled Fletcher on the edge of the penalty area with eight minutes left on the clock, and Zemmama's resulting free-kick shaved the United post.
But the drama had not ended as a challenge by Dickoh on Agard, saw a penalty awarded at the other end and a red card for the Ghanaian defender, with Jamie Hamill converting from 12 yards.
He was lucky to escape a red card but then watched as Fabiano made a woeful hash of the penalty.
Nelsen did pull Agbonlahor's shirt but contact was minimal and the red card decision seemed unnecessary after referee Phil Dowd had already pointed to the penalty spot.
Soon after, Bent went sprinting clear and was body-checked just inside the area by Ricketts, resulting in a penalty for the home side and a second bookable offence and red card for the defender.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish labelled the penalty decision "a joke" and also disagreed with the red card for his captain.
Hart escaped either a yellow or red card for his infringement then rubbed salt into Chelsea's wounds by saving the resulting penalty from Frank Lampard, denying the midfielder his 200th goal for the Blues.
Finnigan won a penalty for his side following a challenge by Esson, who was promptly shown a red card by referee Calum Murray.
The turning point came in the second half as Darren Bent won a penalty after being pulled down by home keeper Heurelho Gomes, who appeared lucky to escape a red card.
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