While the video referee rules that St Helens were in touch near the try line, my colleague Nathan Middleton informs me that Ben Flower is currently the top trend on Twitter in the United Kingdom. He is the first player ever to be sent off in a Grand Final.

After Ben Flower's early red card, Wigan's commitment and endeavour has been very evident in the first half, and they have had their fair share of attacking play too. The question is - how long can they keep it up?

Rob Burrow
Leeds half-back on BBC Radio 5 live

"The pitch is greasy. You have go smart in games like this and make the right decisions at the right time on this sort of pitch.

"This is going to be a close match and you look at the team which is going to make the least errors. We (Leeds) made too many errors at the end of the season and rightly so we didn't deserve to go through."

A moment of concern as St Helens hooker James Roby limps away awkwardly from a tackle. He is their key man, the player that makes them tick. He seems to have shaken it off for now, but one to keep an eye on.

St Helens are camped by the Wigan line but some excellent defensive work by Anthony Gelling keeps Saints out by grasping a horrible bouncing ball. Saints are caught offside and it is a penalty to Wigan, who break but Joe Burgess is dragged into touch.

Nathan Middleton
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

"They might be a man down but Wigan are looking the more creative of the two sides with ball in hand, Blake Green and Matty Smith pulling the strings."

Strong thoughts on Ben Flower's action in the opening seconds of the match.

Josh Knaggs:, external At what point do you class behaviour on a rugby pitch as criminal? Ben Flower has definitely crossed the line there.

Laura Malkin:, external Wow, Ben Flower is heading for a lengthy ban surely.

Aaron Wallace:, external If Wigan win should Ben Flower be allowed on the victory podium?

St Helens are on the board as Mark Percival slots over a penalty from close range. We are tied at 2-2. Will that settle Saints down?

A touch of the Harlem Globetrotters from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who tries an outrageous offload to try and set St Helens forward. Not the brightest piece of play, as there would have been a break on had Wigan not knocked on. Blake Green is then penalised for holding onto James Roby in the tackle. A chance for Saints to level.

Rob Burrow
Leeds half-back on BBC Radio 5 live

"When you have a man sent off you tend to grow an extra leg. Wigan are sticking to their shape but with the red card having been so early on it will come back to haunt them. They will have to hope they have got enough points on the board by that point."

When Paul Wellens starts making mistakes, you may begin to think it is not your day. The St Helens captain looks to kick the ball into touch but it goes out on the full and gifts Wigan some much-needed territory. Then an obstruction call goes against them. Some work to do for the League Leaders' Shield winners.

Charlie Morgan:, external As far as brain explosions go, Ben Flower has just won an Oscar. Mindless.

Andrew:, external I'm no expert but couldn't about six have been sent off? If that was football, there'd be calls for arrests.

Michael Juma:, external Ben Flower you let your team-mates down there and the fans who paid money to go and watch. What a let down.

Image source, Getty Images

Fair play to Wigan, they have responded well to the sending-off of Ben Flower. It is they who are doing most of the attacking. Another high kick is well claimed by Mark Percival, but they are keeping Saints at arm's length.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

"Saints now down to no genuine halves with Hohaia off. Jordan Turner deserves credit for some decent kicks. He has stepped up this tail end of the season."

Another St Helens mistake gives Wigan a scrum on the halfway line. As much as Saints have the extra man advantage, they do not seem to have adapted to that yet, and have made a couple of basic errors with ball in hand.

Tulsen Tollett
Former Super League star and BBC Sport expert on pitchside for BBC Radio 5 live

"Hohaia is back out and sitting on the substitutes' bench. The doctor has said he is just dazed but at the moment you cannot see him coming back on the way he is looking."

Matty Smith does the honours and puts 12-man Wigan in front. Half-back Smith played for St Helens against the Warriors in the 2010 Grand Final. Will he be on the winning side today? Meanwhile, Lance Hohaia is back in the St Helens dugout but does not look at all comfortable.

Sean O'Loughlin's tackle on Alex Walmsley wins possession back for Wigan in their own half, and although Adam Swift collects a high kick easily, Saints are penalised for obstruction and Wigan are going for the two points.

Lots of worried expressions among the Wigan supporters, stunned by early events at Old Trafford.

Now Wigan winger Josh Charnley is penalised for tackling Adam Swift in the air as he chases Matty Smith's high kick. After Ben Flower's early red card, the Warriors will need something special to win this one. Saying that, they have plenty of special players.