West Bromwich Albion have brought in specialist advice to ensure they remain one step ahead of the game on the disciplinary front.
The Baggies had five players sent off last term, but their bookings count of 38 was the fourth-lowest in the Premiership and manager Bryan Robson has been extremely thorough in his preparations to ensure that Albion keep on the right side of the law in the wake of this season's changes to the regulations.
Referees are out to clamp down, not only on foul and abusive language, but also on dangerous tackles.
That led to a flurry of highprofile red cards in the weekend's opening Premiership fixtures, with Jermaine Jenas, Paul Dickov and Darren Ambrose all being sent off.
But Robson has been proactive in ensuring that his own players do not transgress, with a respected Premiership referee pointing out to them just what is legal and illegal.
Dermot Gallagher, from Banbury, was invited to Albion's Walsall Road training ground last week to brief the Baggies players and Robson was pleased with the end result.
"We had a referee come in to go through all the new rules and regulations with the lads," he said. "They know they've got to behave as it's an important part of the game.
"We had five men sent off last season and I've told our lads that's the sort of thing which costs you points."
Neil Clement was the first Albion player to take the long walk last season against Fulham, after being involved in a fight with Andy Cole, with whom he enjoyed a more wellbehaved reunion on Saturday.
Darren Purse was next to receive his marching orders in an early-season game at Newcastle while Cosmin Contra was dismissed for his handball against Liverpool and Jonathan Greening was also sent off for fighting with Aston Villa's Liam Ridgewell at Villa Park in March.
Saturday's trip to the City of Manchester Stadium was a return to the scene of his crime for Thomas Gaardsoe, who was sent off for bringing down Manchester City's Robbie Fowler last term. Given that Gaardsoe was only booked this time, Mr Gallagher's chat already appears to have done some good.
"Apart from that incident with Danny Mills in the last minute, nobody touched anybody," said Robson.
Albion did have one other player cautioned but Ronnie Wallwork appeared an innocent party in the ugly late flare-up with City defender Mills and Robson has confirmed that Albion may try to get that booking rescinded.
"Mills could easily have been sent off," said Robson.
"He grabbed Ronnie Wallwork by the throat and, if anybody does that you're going to get a reaction.
" I think Ronnie was unlucky to be booked and we're going to put a complaint in.
"But, around the country, I have to say I thought that the referees more or less got it all spot-on last weekend.
"Nearly every red card I saw over the weekend was a red card. For whatever reason, there were some nasty tackles flying about.
"Even if the rules hadn't changed, I thought they were all sending-off offences."
