Can the team feel hard done by this season?

[burni]

As things draw towards an end we look as if were most likely finishing just outside the playoffs, and after the biggest pre season hopes I've ever experianced there is nothing but disappointment amongst the LCFC community. One key factor this season is 8 red cards for us which so far is one sending off every 4.5 games which is pretty astonishing. But the thing that gets me is that were not an over aggressive fouling team, how many of our red cards were out and out red with no arguing? But also how many of those ridiculous or 50/50 red cards lost us games?

The point of this post isn't about making excuses that we should be higher in the league, but more does the refereeing decision making have an influence on a team over the course of the season. What brought this to my attention is the match facts when we played Birmingham, they have had two red cards this season an average of one sending off in 16.5 games a huge difference, I'm pretty sure there's not such a significant difference in the way us and them behave on the field of play yet this figure suggests a completely different scenario.

If we had two red cards which to be fair I think is an amount we could of had if you look at our red card incidences would we be in the playoffs with hope of promotion, Sven still at the helm and only the disppointment's of not making automatic promotion (and Birmingham mid table). I'm just using us an Birmingham as am example but do you think the decisions of the referees can have such a significant impact such as the difference of promotion and the sacking of a manager? I think it does but its always been this way and always will be? It just feels wrong especially as we may be on the poor end of a significant decisions against than for us.....

Discuss

[Guest Col city fan]

As things draw towards an end we look as if were most likely finishing just outside the playoffs, and after the biggest pre season hopes I've ever experianced there is nothing but disappointment amongst the LCFC community. One key factor this season is 8 red cards for us which so far is one sending off every 4.5 games which is pretty astonishing. But the thing that gets me is that were not an over aggressive fouling team, how many of our red cards were out and out red with no arguing? But also how many of those ridiculous or 50/50 red cards lost us games?

The point of this post isn't about making excuses that we should be higher in the league, but more does the refereeing decision making have an influence on a team over the course of the season. What brought this to my attention is the match facts when we played Birmingham, they have had two red cards this season an average of one sending off in 16.5 games a huge difference, I'm pretty sure there's not such a significant difference in the way us and them behave on the field of play yet this figure suggests a completely different scenario.

If we had two red cards which to be fair I think is an amount we could of had if you look at our red card incidences would we be in the playoffs with hope of promotion, Sven still at the helm and only the disppointment's of not making automatic promotion (and Birmingham mid table). I'm just using us an Birmingham as am example but do you think the decisions of the referees can have such a significant impact such as the difference of promotion and the sacking of a manager? I think it does but its always been this way and always will be? It just feels wrong especially as we may be on the poor end of a significant decisions against than for us.....

Discuss

I simply think it usually averages itself out over the course of the season.

What troubles me more has been the standard of some of the Championship refs this season.

Some have been shocking.

[Bettsj2]

There's no doubt that bad decisions have cost us points this season, however I think we've thrown enough away ourselves to have kept us out of the play offs even if the refs had been decent.

In addition, Beckford vs Brighton was possibly the worst decision i've ever seen.

[NottsFox]

The refereeing decisions this year as a whole has bewildered me! Beckford v Brighton?

But...

We have been shocking this season and thrown away enough as it is, should have drew v brighton, beat forest, drew with hull etc.

We don't deserve promotion but I've never hated ref's more than I have this season!

[RonnieTodger]

Some refereeing has cost us dearly. ie red cards and penalties. However, we can't just base it on this. It's the defeats against poor teams such as Doncaster, Watford, Bristol City x2. We've conceded a few late goals too.

The inconsistency is the obvious answer and I thought towards the start of the season that things just didn't go our way. That's been the theme throughout the season.

[Star Captain]

I feel like this every season.

We've had some bizarre refereeing decisions this season, but we're a victim of our own missed opportunities more than anything.

[Matt]

We've had some bad referees this season, making some horrific decisions but if anyone blames officiating for us not making the playoff they are in denial and very naive, we have nothing to blame but the teams inconsistancy.

[AKCJ]

First of all, we've not been good enough in games where refereeing decisions have made no impact (see Donny away, Posh at home, Bristol home and away for just a few examples) but we have been let down badly by some refereeing.

Hull away, Mills shouldn't have been sent off.

Middlesborough at home, the ref did everything in his power to stop us winning.

Brighton away, need I say more?

I don't think it is any coincidence that most of our red cards have been away from home, either.

[accessory]

The statistics make it seem we're a physical side, which couldn't be further from the truth.

But Darius Vassell's red card (which was fully deserved) in the first 10 minutes of our opening game did us no favours. It gave us a reputation among refs we have been unable to dispel.

[whoareyaaa]

We are only 8 points away from 4th spot we still have to play teams above us so it could be done.. but its highly unlikey that we will do it but not impossible.