Bill Shankly once famously said ‘Football’s not a matter of life and death. It’s much more important than that.’ Well, any passionate club supporter will adhere to these rules as well. Therefore a team’s home ground isn’t the most pleasant place to be around when the home side loses; beware the wrath of their spectators.

A defeat is never just a defeat though, there always has to be someone to blame it on. Try listening to a radio phone-in after the game, when the irate fans ring in abusing anyone from the players to the manager and often the officials as well. Most clubs normally have their favourite player to blame, a scapegoat, a token flag bearer for the club’s inability to win. It doesn’t matter if they’ve played well in that game, or not even taken to the pitch, these scapegoats still have to shoulder some of the responsibility.

Being such a competitive league, the Premiership has had its fair share of scapegoats and here are 15 players who have found themselves the victims of the blame game in recent years.

Click on Jermaine Jenas to unveil the 15 great Premier League scapegoats

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