It's worse than just the statistics above.
The ref's seem to be deliberately not booking players against us in the first half especially, allowing them to continue to foul and disrupt play. Whereas our guys are cautioned (defenders most prominently) as soon as they can get the book out, for often innocuous or even completely fair challenges. Also, giving opposition free kicks for anything and everything, especially in our half. Players just throw themselves to the ground knowing they will get the decision.
It's been a pattern for far too long and for too many games, with too many referees to be coincidence. I'd say I started noticing it start of last season or thereabouts. Before that, there were terrible refereeing performances (as we know) but they were getting way too much heat and scrutiny. So, to me the tactics and game plan has changed in an attempt to be more subtle. Knowing that these little influences wil eventually be the difference in our dropping points throughout the season.
An independent analysis comparing our games to theirs (because they are the only comparison given the amount of time spent attacking, possession etc) and how the games are refereed would make interesting and very damning reading I'd say.
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