The Hand of Drog

I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed by today's result at the Bridge. If you looked at the fixture schedule at the start of the season, you'd have probably put that down as a home win anyway.

This game had all the hallmarks of being a total annihilation or a surprise result. In the end it was neither, and losing by two goals is probably better that most of us expected if we're honest.

What is particulary galling though is yet another match where City seem to be playing against the referee as well as the other team.

Drogba admitted after the game, he handled the ball prior to the second goal, something seemingly not picked up by the match officials. To then send the City captain off at the interval for not giving him the match ball quickly enough was petulant to say the least, although that trait has been displayed throughout Rob Styles' career - the man just doesn't seem happy unless he can wave the red card about.

I'm not saying City would have won if Distin hadn't been dismissed; we actually played better with 10 men in the 2nd half, but it would be nice for a change to have a ref that applied common sense and was consistent with his decision making.

As for Chelsea, it's a shame they descend to tactics that at best can be described as 'gamesmanship'. Drogba's antics are well known and you expect him and most of his team mates for that matter, to dive all over the place, but I was really saddened to see SWP take a dive, straight out of the Joe Cole and Robben manual, to get the Newcastle lad sent off in midweek - he'd never have done that at City.

Come on Jose - with the squad you've got, you don't need to play the game like this!

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