We need to start pressuring the officials. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we will never get consistently fair decisions from the referee unless we hound them just like every other team does.
I want Tim to come out after the game and excoriate that linesman. It might not be fair, but we really have to stop playing fair if we want to get anywhere. Excoriate that linesman, take the fine or ban or whatever the FA see fit to give him. Watch the next game from the stands, he seems to do that anyway when he feels he needs a tactical view, so it won't be too bad.
However...that doesn't mean we haven't been bad. We have, and the ineptness of that lino will serve only as a handy excuse for the team selection and performance today. City steamrollered us again, and it still hurts even though they're clearly a masterful side. What I will never understand is why our players constantly look exhausted: even after a 13 day rest, they looked tired and were second to every ball for large stretches of the game so far. City showed more energy and desire despite having played more recently and more frequently overall. Something's horribly wrong with our fitness and physio departments.
Sigh. Onwards and upwards.