IS there a word for the irrational fear of a referee? If there isn’t you will get a large number of Potteries votes for Stylesophobia as the dictionary entry.

Rob Styles is not the only reason why the Potters failed to make it to the Carling Cup semi finals, but decision to award a penalty for handball with seconds remaining in normal time have just added to the legend.

Styles really is loathed by Stoke City fans, for reasons that go back a whopping nine years to his sending off of two players during a play off semi final.

And it would be so tempting to blame the man in the middle for the fact that Derby County, not Stoke, are in the last four.

After all, Griffin’s back was to the ball when it connected with his hand so unless he has eyes in the back of his head, it’s hard to see how that was a deliberate act.

Add to that the fact that Rob ruled out a Richard Cresswell goal as well and he’s on no Stokie’s Christmas card list.

But the truth is that we had plenty of chances to win the game with or without his assstance, Sidibe missing what Radio Stoke described as a sitter and Ricardo clearly leaving his shooting boots at home.

With or without Styles, we could and probably should have won.

We’re just going to have to grin, bear it and gird our loins ahead of the Newcastle match.