Nicolas Anelka's hat-trick inspired ten-man Manchester City to a memorable Premiership victory at home to Everton.
The £13million Frenchman's first goals for the club made it 12 successive home League wins, but the afternoon will long be remembered for another refereeing controversy involving Barry Knight.
The match official dismissed City's Shaun Wright-Phillips for tripping Everton's Gary Naysmith.
It was a blatant penalty, but Naysmith was not in a clear goalscoring position, though Knight later confirmed it was for a professional foul.
City manager Kevin Keegan said that they will be hoping to overturn the decision following an appeal.
"It was a clear penalty and booking, but it did not warrant a sending-off, and I do not know any other referee who would have sent the player off," explained Kegan.
The City chief was delighted to see Anelka finally get off the mark, though it was not his goal which impressed him most: "Anelka gave us so much energy and what I remember most was him chasing back 60 yards on one occasion to make a challenge," explained Keegan.
City were 2-0 ahead, Anelka finding the net after 14 and 16 minutes, when they were reduced to ten men following Wright-Phillips' 27th minute dismissal.
But even though City were down in numbers for more than an hour they emerged the victors. David Unsworth halved Everton's deficit with the penalty which had been conceded by Wright-Phillips as Everton were handed an unexpected lifeline.
City were forced to fight a defensive rearguard action in the second half with keeper Peter Schmeichel saving superbly to deny Nicals Alexandersson, Kevin Campbell and Unsworth, but in the dying minutes Anelka robbed Naysmith and broke away to complete his treble and seal victory