Ten Of The All-Time Worst Refereeing Decisions To Go Against Lincoln City

7: Mick Martin Reprieve

Our FA Cup fourth-round visit to West Bromwich Albion on 24 January 1976 had all the ingredients of another famous cup afternoon. In front of 26,388 at The Hawthorns, the Fourth Division leaders recovered from an early setback through a Sam Ellis penalty and a John Fleming goal to lead their Second Division hosts 2-1 at half-time.

Mick Martin had already had his name taken for protesting before the interval when he injured Dave Smith early in the second half. Smith had been central to City’s performance in midfield, but referee Keith Styles decided the challenge merited only a lengthy lecture. A second booking would have meant Martin’s dismissal; instead, we were left with an injured midfielder while Albion kept all 11 men.

The consequences could hardly have been more galling. In the 55th minute, Martin himself hooked home the equaliser, and Bryan Robson’s 30-yard winner in the 73rd minute eventually completed a 3-2 turnaround. Smith was unable to continue and Albion advanced to a fifth-round home tie with Southampton, while City were left reflecting on a decisive passage in which the player who escaped punishment helped swing the match away from us.