I still cannot believe I am about to write this – and even as I press the keys, there remains an overwhelming urge to highlight the whole thing and hit the delete button – but I actually felt a little bit sorry for Neil Warnock last weekend.

There, I've said it. Oh, and please bear with me.

It is easy to dislike Warnock – and, believe me, I do. He regularly complains, moans, bleats and whinges about how life is unfair and that the whole football world – make that the whole world – is against him. You can just imagine him shrieking, "I wouldn't be so paranoid if you weren't all out to get me."

But the fact remains that last Saturday at Ashton Gate, with the match against Bristol City level at 0-0, Warnock's Crystal Palace team scored a perfectly good goal that was not spotted by the match officials.

The ball, as per the aim of the game, crossed the goal-line and entered the goal, yet the usual reward for such a feat – namely a goal – was not given.

To make matters worse – or better, depending on your view of Mr Warnock – City then scored in the final minute of the match. The officials spotted that one, though, and Gary Johnson's team won 1-0.

Now, swap the teams round and it is not quite so funny, is it? Well, unless, of course, you happen to follow Bristol Rovers or Crystal Palace.

But the point remains that, had it happened to about 99.7 per cent of football managers in the world who are not Warnock (with the notable exceptions of Sir Alex Ferguson and Russell Slade) there would have been an awful lot more sympathy on offer.

Warnock remonstrated with the officials, as he tends to do, yet on this occasion his remonstrations were probably more justified than ever. As a side point, note how the word "remonstrate" and its derivatives are only ever used in the context of decisions made by officials in football matches. You never hear of a couple remonstrating with a waiter over an undercooked steak, for example.

Warnock branded Johnson "unsportsmanlike", which is an unfortunate accusation based on the events that took place at Huish Park on August 24, 2004.

Johnson's Yeovil Town "accidentally" took the lead against Plymouth Argyle in a Carling Cup first-round tie that night, with the manager's son, Lee, scoring from long range as he attempted to play the ball back to the Argyle goalkeeper following an injury.

In response, Johnson Sr ordered his players to let Plymouth score from the restart, which they did, before Yeovil went on to claim a 3-2 victory.

Warnock appeared to think the same generosity should have applied at the weekend, although as the City manager explained: "We knew the ball had gone into the net, but we got word the ref said there was an infringement so there is nothing more we can do."

Yet none of this detracts from the fact Warnock's team scored a perfectly legitimate goal that was not given. To say, "oh well, it's Neil Warnock and he deserved it", implies one rule for one, one rule for the others is perfectly acceptable.

It was only when Warnock's chairman, Simon Jordan, became involved that the whole thing turned really nasty, Jordan calling City "cheats" in a typically deep, eloquent and considered reaction to the situation.

Jordan called for a replay after completely overlooking the very basic fact that Bristol City did not cheat but the officials, all of whom are human, made a mistake. It happens.

As a result, referee Rob Shoebridge and his fellow match officials were removed from the appointments list until a review of the incident is conducted. A clear indication as to where the blame lies.

Jordan, in the meantime, has been asked to explain his "cheat" comments to the Football Association. That should not take him too long.

As for Warnock, as uncomfortable as it makes me to say it, he probably – and only just about – deserves a little sympathy on this occasion.

There, done it. Right, I am off to have a shower, scrub my conscience and hope I never find myself in the alien position of feeling slightly sorry for him again.