COLIN Todd fears the relegation odds are being stacked in favour of the Premier League's so-called 'big fish'.

The Wanderers boss, battling to keep his team's survival hopes alive, is convinced they were the victim of a refereeing injustice in Tuesday's big Reebok clash with Championship-chasing Arsenal.

But on reflection, he isn't surprised that Keith Burge awarded Wanderers a free kick instead of a penalty at a crucial stage of the game which ended in a 1-0 defeat. He revealed today that he had considered speaking to the Welsh ref at half-time, when he was worried that too many decisions were going in Arsenal's favour.

"I'm convinced that the top clubs are consistently getting the benefit of the doubt," Todd claimed.

"The smaller clubs aren't getting their just desserts. Look at Barnsley on Saturday...what happened to them was diabolical.

"I just think things are stacked in favour of keeping the top teams like Newcastle, Everton and Tottenham in the Premiership.

"They don't want the likes of ourselves, Barnsley, Crystal Palace and Wimbledon to stay up."

Todd has a reputation as a manager who doesn't whinge when decisions go against him but he admits today that he his patience has run out.

"I've been very, very patient this season but we've had cause for complaint on numerous occasions this season," he explained.

"I know it's not just managers at the bottom who have had a pop at referees but, in general, I think it's the big fish who get all the comforts.

"Nobody had a divine right to be in the Premiership, whether it's Spurs, Everton or Newcastle. Neither do we but we have a right to expect a fair deal."

Todd remains positive, though, that Wanderers can beat the odds and retain their top flight status.

He isn't even contemplating the prospect of relegation as he prepares for Saturday's game at Wimbledon.

"We have seven games left and Saturday's is the only one I'm concerned about," he insists. "If the team can perform as well as they have in the last three games - including the Arsenal game - we will win at Wimbledon." Gerry Taggart came through a 90-minute test in the Reserves last night - his first full game since October 26, when his season was blighted by suspension and injury problems.

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