Rover All View, with JASON WHALLEY

OVER the years I've seen many things on a football field that have made me laugh and things that have made me shake my head in disbelief.

On Saturday I saw something that made me do both in different measure and for that I have to thank Jay Bothroyd.

Picture the scene. You're bottom of the table in an early season relegation match up against your main rivals. It's goalless and both teams are evenly matched coming up to half-time and you've just tested the opposition goalkeeper with two stinging drives.

You're playing with confidence and starting to show what kind of a player you can be after finally forcing your way into the team.

What do you do next, demand the ball so you can showcase your talent? Lead by example by closing the opposition down and giving your all for the team? Or do you get caught up in a bit of 'handbags' by the corner flag and retaliate by trying to cut your opponent in half with one swing of your left leg?

We all know the answer to that one but one thing I can't work out is what possessed him to do such a thing. It's not like it was a snap decision, he'd already shepherded the ball out and taken a couple of kicks for his trouble.

So why he decided to take such retribution in full view of the officials having had time to weigh up his options is beyond me.

Regardless of the kicking he received, there can be no excuse, especially when it leaves your team-mates one man down for half of a game they cannot afford to lose.

As it panned out it is possible to laugh now we gained a point late on but what of the implications for Bothroyd? He's looked the part in the last couple of games and has seized his chance well.

Now he's up for a three-game suspension and will have to break back in the side all over again.

I'd like to think that Jay feels suitably embarrassed by his actions and pretty thankful for the 'get out of jail free' card given to him by the tireless Paul Dickov's late winner on Saturday.

It can only be hoped that we get a fully revitalised Jay Bothroyd back after his enforced absence, he certainly looks to have that little bit of class about him.

Even so, as one door shuts for the short term for Bothroyd another door opens for someone else to take their chance. Stead looks the obvious replacement and will probably get the nod but I hope that means that we see the long overdue inclusion of Paul Gallagher in the squad.

At times last year he came on to change games and always looked a threat. He's been scoring for the reserves, is fully fit and I'm sure he'll be itching to show the new management team what he can do.

Our recent upturn in form has owed as much to the inclusion of the younger players as anything else and the scene is set for one of our brightest young talents to come to the fore, starting on Saturday.