Across Nottingham Forest’s last two outings, West Brom and Preston have taken two points off the Reds.
The match officials have collected four.
That is four points which would have Martin O’Neill’s men very much in the mix for a top-six finish.
Add a trip to Leeds back in October to the pot.
And a Boxing Day visit to Norwich.
Had Kemar Roofe’s handball been spotted at Elland Road and the match officials not lost track of time at Carrow Road, then that would be another four points.
We are now up to eight and counting.
They say you cannot, or should not miss what you have never had.
Forest have had these points in their grasp though and seen them snatched away.
This isn’t theoretical thinking, it is theft!
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O’Neill bit his lip after seeing Dwight Gayle and Lee Mason rob the Reds at The Hawthorns, much to his credit.
The Northern Irishman was clearly irked, though, after having two efforts scrubbed off at Deepdale.
Joe Lolley rolled into an empty net during the second half at Preston after Ryan Yates had seemingly done little wrong in challenging for a loose ball with Declan Rudd.
O’Neill told Forest’s official website afterwards: “We should have taken all three points and the goal should have stood. I have seen it back and the goalkeeper has spilled the ball, it is there to be fought for and we have put the ball in the net.
“It should be a goal and we have been robbed of all three points, again, in a matter of three days so that is four points and it is a lot to take.
“It is frustrating and these are the points that you can’t get back, not at this stage of the season anyway. If it is early on in the season you can ignore it, get on with it and think things will level themselves up.
“That is a lot of points at this stage of the season and twice in a matter of three or four days.”
Luck
Luck is supposed to even itself out over the course of a season.
If that is the case, then Forest are due a truckload in their remaining 13 fixtures.
It would be nice to get a large slice of that next time out against Derby.
In an ideal world no rub of the green will be required in that contest and the spoils will be secured in deserved fashion.
Forest certainly shouldn’t be relying on the men in the middle to do them any favours.
Recent history suggests that the Reds have to take on 12 foes every time they take to the field.
That is a big ask and making an already difficult task borderline impossible.
Referees should not be taking more points than Forest’s rivals, especially when there is no accountability for those failing to do their job properly.