They say refereeing decisions even out over the course of a season. If so we are due at least a dozen dodgy decisions go our way in the next 8 games. It surely can't be the referees clubbing together to make sure they collectively team against us because they don't like our managers mouth, but it is difficult to see any other explanation. Over the last 2 months.
Doncaster away Shodipo penalty as clear as you will ever see not given
Tranmere first goal clearly handball
Ipswich we had to suffer an 'unhelpful' referee all game having to smooth over the carnage from Drysdale headbutting an Ipswich player the game before
Charlton elbow just before half time not sent off, but was subbed by Charlton at half time because he should have been sent off and would have been in second half (KR note)
Northampton handball on the line penalty not given, even though the 4th official now admits he saw it but didn't say anything to the referee (if you believe KR's story)
Lincoln clear penalty not given, but thankfully evened up by an equally bad decision moments later. Does that make it OK that a ref is allowed to do this?
Sunderland
The biggest danger to the future of football is the standard of the officials. VAR has not helped, but that is because those officials who were deemed not good enough and needed electronic intervention to overcome their failings are in charge of it. And we can all see they still get it wrong even with TV replays so what chance do we have that they get decisions right on the pitch in real time. The difference is that the element of acceptable human error is taken away by VAR, getting a decision wrong with VAR can only be professional negligence. And it is difficult to understand how the FA can be 'happy' with Kettle turning out bad performance after bad performance. Surely they must realise he is toxic. It is very sad when all of the pre-match chat is about how the fans and media are expecting another terrible refereeing performance, and the post-match chat is a case of told you so, if anything it was even worse than predicted pre-match.