Against both crewe and bury, wycombe suffered from poor penalty decisions. Against Stevenage, Mousinho wasn't sent off for a 2 footed ankle breaker on Lewis, against Macclesfield Dave was sent off for nothing and in the other match against Bury, sodje did about 10 hacks and blatant pushes against our players and wasn't penalised. We dealt with this and carried on, the same way Shrewsbury should have.
The phantom goal was months ago, if Shrewsbury were that much better they would have won more games than us overall and they should have got promoted regardless of the goal. Furthermore, what if the goal hadn't been scored and we had scored 5 minutes later? There was still time on the clock, anything could have happened. This is a weak argument and those still bitter should deal with it and stop complaining.
The non-goal is a contentious topic but let's clear up a few apparent misconceptions:
1. First and foremost, we've known from full time on 19 March that it's gone and nothing will change it. Nor will it be a distraction to players or fans in the play offs, whatever the outcome.
2. No-one's suggesting Wycombe are in the wrong. You were wrongly awarded the goal but what else could you do but take it? And you've finished the season well to clinch 3rd place so well done. Yes there's some bitterness, but it's directed entirely towards Wigglesworth and Linington (and I hope they might both return to the Meadow one day, to receive a warm Salopian greeting). I'm not saying Shrewsbury are better than Wycombe, just that you were given an unfair advantage that's turned out to be the crucial difference between us.
3. Of course it'll go down in Shrews history as the officials' howler that cost us automatic promotion, just like the last minute corner that wasn't a corner from which Gillingham won our last play off final. A sense of grievance is part of every football fan's lot. Like you accepting the gift of the "goal", what would you expect us to do, say "oh well it's just one of those things"? Would you, in the reverse situation? I don't think so. It's part of our history now and nothing can change that. And the comments of neutral observers, as on the FL Show last night, suggest we're not unreasonable in feeling aggrieved.
4. It wasn't a "things that even out over the season" type of decision, so those comparisons are off the mark. And it was about 7 weeks ago, not "months" as theblues says. Everyone has penalties not given and opponents not sent off (we had both in the infamous 2nd half against you). I haven't seen anyone else suffer such a demonstrably wrong decision that had such an impact on the outcome of such a vital game, and ultimately the season. Show me a direct comparison if you know of one - as long as it isn't a matter of opinion and it's between maybe Barnet and Lincoln and it resulted in a 3 point adjustment in favour of the wronged team - then I'll feel better about it.
5. None of this affects you enjoying your promotion and your telling us to stop complaining won't stop us feeling aggrieved. But neither do we feel negative about the play offs for a moment. If we don't get through, it won't have anything to do with this.
6. That's all. Onwards and, hopefully, upwards.