The Irishman was dismissed for pulling back the Blues’ Adrian Mutu, with referee Paul Durkin also awarding a penalty.
Sir Bobby and the other players rallied round O’Brien afterwards and claimed the decision was incorrect and that Mutu had cheated to win the penalty.
I can’t see the appeal succeeding though as the television replays seem to show that O’Brien did try and pull Mutu back, so strictly speaking the decision was correct even though contact was minimal.
Having said that Mutu knew what he was doing by diving into the area - when did a slight tug backwards last cause you to fall forward very quickly - and Durkin was wrong to point to the spot.
Durkin is probably the best referee in the Premiership and the antics of players do make it very difficult for match officials, so he can be excused too much criticism for this one.
As for the claims afterwards that the incident changed the match - it certainly didn’t help but we’d already lost the game by then.
Completely outclassed I’m sorry to say.