Tottenham idol issues emphatic Son Heung-min verdict as controversial footage analysed
Paul Robinson has backed the referee's decision to send off Chancel Mbemba for his challenge on Tottenham forward Son Heung-min on Wednesday night.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former White Hart Lane number one said Antonio Conte's side needed the red card after "struggling" against Marseille.
As shown on BT Sport (7 September), Mbemba was shown a red card after fouling Son in the second half of Spurs' 2-0 win over Marseille.
Referee Slavko Vincic adjudged Mbemba to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and VAR concurred.
The decision would prove pivotal as the game was goalless at the time.
When asked by Football Insider if the referee was correct to send off the Marseille defender, Robinson said: "It was not a clear and obvious error.
"It is one of them that could have gone either way but it was not a clear and obvious error.
"There was not enough evidence to overturn it either way. It is one you want as the attacking team and one you would be miffed about if you are the defending team.
"From a Spurs point of view, you can see why the referee has given it and not overturned it. It was a red card and Spurs needed it, to be honest.
"They struggled throughout the game. It was not the best performance.
"They have a tough underbelly now though. They have a ruggedness and a toughness to win games when they are not playing well.
"We are seeing a Spurs team with a different mentality."