Wolves need to be more streetwise if they are to survive in the Premier League, according to midfielder Stephen Hunt.
Irishman urges Midlanders to be more astute
Wolves need to be more streetwise if they are to survive in the Premier League, according to midfielder Stephen Hunt.
Wanderers have lodged an appeal with the Football Association against the dismissal of Nenad Milijas in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Arsenal.
The Serbian midfielder was sent off by Stuart Attwell following a sliding challenge on Mikel Arteta after 75 minutes.
Decision
The FA's disciplinary panel are set to hear the case and make a decision ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton, which could see the automatic three-match ban rescinded.
Republic of Ireland international Hunt feels the Arsenal players did not help the situation, and that Wolves need to learn how to stand their ground.
"Players are clever, the reactions sometimes do not help the referee," he said. "Everyone does it now. We should be maybe better at it than any other team.
"We have been done in the past - like with [Jonathan] Woodgate [against Stoke], we should have been surrounding the referee to get him sent off. Every team does it, so we don't do it and get punished. Maybe we should start doing it."
Attwell, 29, became the youngest Premier League referee when he took charge of his first game in 2008, but has never been far from controversy after awarding the infamous 'Ghost Goal' in a match between Reading at Watford the same season.
Earlier this month, his decision to show Gary Cahill a red card for a professional foul on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker 10 yards from the halfway line was later overturned by the FA's disciplinary panel on appeal.
However, Hunt firmly believes Attwell must be allowed the time needed to grow into the role.
"I like Stuart Attwell," Hunt said. "He is an up-and-coming referee and he referees the best he can to a certain degree.
"I will take it on the chin if he makes a certain mistake. I make a mistake, and so can he.
"A lot of people in this country criticise, but what are we going to do? We need up-and-coming referees in the game, it is getting faster as well, so the fitter you are the better you should be. But everyone makes mistakes.
"I like Stuart as a person, he is always respectful on the pitch, is always talking and is learning the game as well.
Difficult
"Unfortunately with so many cameras around, you cannot get away with much. He has had good decisions. It was a difficult game to referee, there was a lot going on.
"He made a mistake on the red card, but it did not really change the game as we were defending at the time anyway.
"Hopefully it is going to be rescinded, and on the day we have not been punished from it, so we move on."
