Two minutes into the second half, Dawson's words from the team talk were already proving their worth.
The first challenge came when Leo collected the ball just ahead of his own box and began moving forward.
He had already gone past the first Luton player, and now the second.
His feet worked through the press with the unhurried certainty that had become his signature, when the third player came in from the side and took him off the ball and off his feet simultaneously.
The stadium reacted instantly, with the angered roar of the away fans overpowering that of the home fans.
"That is a poor challenge," the commentator said, the earlier neutrality gone from his voice.
"Leo Calderon has been targeted there, and the referee needs to deal with this."
The referee arrived, pointed at the Luton player, and spoke to him up close.
The warning was clear, and the yellow card was still in his pocket, but the implication was that it wouldn't stay there if he asked for it again.
