Controlling transmissions on resources subject to listen before talk process

A wireless communication device (18) is configured for use in a wireless communication network (10). As a Listen Before Talk (LBT) attempt occurs over time on the transmission resource (16-1... 16-N), the wireless communication device (18) updates a performance rating (22-1... 22-N) of the transmission resource (16-1... 16-N) to reflect a likelihood that the observed LBT attempt is successful or failed on the transmission resource (16-1... 16-N); in response to a failed LBT attempt unexpectedly occurring on the transmission resource (16-1... 16-N) according to the performance rating (22-1... 22-N), the wireless communication device (18) applies a deviation (26-n) to the performance rating (22-1... 22-N) to reflect a greater likelihood of LBT attempt failure or a less likelihood of LBT attempt success than actually observed on the transmission resource (16-1... 16-N), and the applied deviation (26-n) is relaxed over time. The wireless communication device (18) controls transmissions on the transmission resourc