extract from BOBBY JOHNSTONE, THE PASSING OF AN AGE by John Leigh
…City recorded their first double of the season, but the match is more notable for the fact that Bobby Johnstone was sent off for the only time in his career. Bobby’s opinion was that a Chelsea inside forward was jostling his mate Ken Barnes rather too roughly, and he advised his mate to “stand off him a bit, then run and hit him!” Apparently the referee overheard this and sent off Bobby for inciting foul play, although other reports state that the referee despatched him for bad language. He ran from the pitch and passed the bench, with Les McDowall simply assuming that he had come off to change his boots! A couple of minutes later, finding him in the bath, the manager listened as Bobby explained that the referee’s decision was wrong, and he was sure that he would try to even things up. At that, they both heard the sound of a Chelsea man’s studs (right back Ian MacFarlane) entering the away dressing room. He too had been sent off.
Johnstone was fuming and told the press “if I’m penalised, I shall seriously consider giving up football.”
The team didn’t seem to suffer too badly though, going on to win 5-2, with the remaining forwards scoring all of the goals. It was noted ‘the speed, enthusiasm and skill of the City attack without ace schemer Johnstone was a revelation.