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Dubious goal gives Blues the points

Chelsea's Michael Ballack, front, and Newcastle United's Steven Taylor battle for the ball during their English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in west London on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Sam Allardyce admitted he felt robbed by Salomon Kalou's controversial late winner as Chelsea piled more pressure on the beleaguered Newcastle United manager.

Kalou was at least 2m offside when he scored from close range to clinch a 2-1 win over Allardyce's side at Stamford Bridge in west London on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast striker was able to steal the points after Jon Obi Mikel's shot was deflected into his path via substitute Claudio Pizarro.

But assistant referee Mike Cairns' decision not to rule out the effort was harsh on Allardyce, who was already feeling the heat after failing to beat struggling Derby County and Wigan Athletic.

"It's one of those decisions I wouldn't mind getting into trouble for to be honest, but that would cost me money and I don't want to part with money when I don't deserve it," Allardyce said. "As a manager you can't say what you really think, you have to keep that bottled up inside you. There's no real excuse when the assistant referee sees it again."

"It hurts deeply for everybody at the club, particularly the players. A result has been taken away from us through no fault of our own, but by an assistant referee who has got a horrible decision wrong," he said. "Unfortunately we have to take it on the chin as it can not be changed, but it is a severe blow to our confidence."

Allardyce made it clear after this latest defeat that he is a supporter of television replays, but Chelsea manager Avram Grant will be pleased the technology has not been introduced.

Within moments of the goal being scored, it was clear from the screens inside the stadium that it should not have stood.

As Grant spoke afterwards he claimed not to have seen a replay of the winning strike and instead chose to praise his under strength side for producing a victory that lifts them closer to the top of the table.

Ten Chelsea players were missing at Stamford Bridge, including suspended pair Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho, as well as key stars Frank Lampard, John Terry, Andriy Shevchenko and Petr Cech.

"I think we deserved to win this game anyway," Grant said. "I think we are always in the picture for the championship race but given the situation, sometimes it is not easy. I think you saw the spirit of the team today."

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given made two good first-half saves to deny Kalou and Mikel, before Chelsea made their breakthrough on 29 minutes. Michael Essien was able to tap home after a Shaun Wright-Phillips shot deflected into his path.

Their lead was almost doubled either side of halftime, as Wright-Phillips headed wide and then Given made an instinctive save to stop a Nicky Butt clearance from finding his own net.

Newcastle leveled against the run of play on 55 minutes. Charles N'Zogbia drilled a ball across the area and Butt was able to bundle the ball over the line under pressure from Wayne Bridge.

The game was then decided in controversial fashion on 87 minutes thanks to Kalou and the assistant referee. While Newcastle will feel hard done by, Chelsea can look forward to the New Year's Day trip to Fulham as a chance to move closer to the top of the league.
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