Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole says he doesn't deserve a reputation as a hatchet man.
Cattermole, 22, saw red against Birmingham on the opening day.
He said: "It doesn't take much to get sent off these days.
"Howard Webb came to see us the other week. He blasted my two fouls in front of 50 of my team-mates.
"He showed the second one and that was a booking, fair enough, but he didn't show the first one which was for kicking the ball away. I tapped it about two yards!"
Catts added: "I've been given a reputation of some sort of hardman but it's not the way I am.
"If there's a tackle to be won I will go in hard and fair. I don't go in to hurt people and never would.
"Back in the day, nobody would have batted an eyelid about the way I play the game.
"Now, because the physical side of the game doesn't go on as much, you get a reputation."
