Has Chelsea's penalty count been abnormally low?

Is this just more Jose Mourinho mind games?

Chelsea's claim, that they have been awarded an 'abnormally low' number of penalties this season, seems to carry some weight.

The league leaders, who spend much of their time attacking and in the opposition penalty box, have been given just two penalties in the Premier League this season. This compares rather unfavourably with two other sides in the top four, Arsenal and Manchester City, who both have had seven awarded.

This perceived unfairness has resulted in Chelsea publishing an article on their official website claiming that, with the side attacking more than the opposition and currently the second-highest scorers in the league, the figure of just two penalties awarded seems 'abnormally low'.

The website tries to limit this to solely a Premier League problem by citing the fact that the Blues have had five penalties in eight Champions League games.

The figure does appear low but there are some possible reasons for this.

Mind Games

With Sir Alex Ferguson having retired, Jose Mourinho is unrivalled in terms of mind games and everything he says has to be viewed with that in mind. He fully realises that raising the issue of his side being denied penalties will, whether consciously or not, be in the referee's thoughts in subsequent Premier League games. It should not sway them and probably won't but Mourinho will hope that by making an issue of it, if a Chelsea player goes down in the area, in a 50-50 decision, the attacker will get the benefit of the doubt.

Diving

Chelsea are not the only side to be guilty of gamesmanship as it is a problem throughout the Premier League. However, there is little doubt that Chelsea have been guilty of diving on occasions this season.

Earlier this season figures showed that Chelsea were responsible for over a quarter of the yellow cards that had been handed out in the Premier League for 'simulation'. If a side has a reputation, fairly or otherwise, for diving that is also a matter that, perhaps subconsciously, would be on the mind of a referee if a Chelsea player goes down in the area.

In Mitigation

Whatever the effects or otherwise of mind games and simulation, there is little doubt that some decisions this season have gone against Chelsea.

The Blues' two games against Southampton this season both saw decisions go in favour of the Saints with Chelsea having legitimate penalty shouts for challenges on Cesc Fabregas at St Mary's and then on Branislav Ivanovic in the return game at Stamford Bridge.

Numerous other incidents have been added to Mourinho's list of grievances, notably the recent home draw with Burnley when Chelsea were denied what appeared a clear penalty when one of the Burnley defenders handled inside the area.

So the statistics do show that Chelsea have been harshly treated this season and there have been a number of incidents in which the side could well have been awarded a penalty. However, there is always a margin of error in such decisions.

Though they have a case in some games this season, none of the decisions have been completely clear-cut. Penalty decisions rarely are and therefore suggestions of a conspiracy against the side are surely wide of the mark. Every team can point to numerous decisions that have gone against them during a season.

Chelsea have been awarded relatively few penalties so far this Premier League season, but while it may be 'abnormally low', there are no grand plans to destabilise Chelsea and favour the opposition. Mourinho's side are favourites to win this season's Premier League title and, if successful, will win it on merit.

They may have been awarded fewer penalties than normal and some decisions have not gone their way, but it is a statistical quirk rather than an organised campaign to deprive Chelsea of the title.