I think you're being very kind to their player! I just think it was a shlt ball!! Im sure he was at fault for the second as well being caught in possession.
I can see how a foul could have been given but would have been very weak. I agree with you on the 4th official though, I thought they held the board up and made sure the mangers and subs etc behaved themselves.
Seems we're wrong though... "He assists the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game. The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play." I've never seen it where the get involved with incidents such as the Crewe game though and more if there was serious foul play off the ball, mass brawls etc
I'm sure Phil Crossley had a lengthy consultation with the 4th official and linesman in making that awful decision to penalise Eric Sabin rather than send off the Mansfield player in the infamous play-off game.