For all Coyle’s bleating, his Bolton side were beaten by the better team yesterday. But his complaints – rather than his wider assertion that Bolton deserved to go home with something – weren’t entirely unrealistic.
The law of averages suggests that, of the two strong penalty shouts Bolton had last night, they would normally get at least one. The first, a Drogba handball in the box, was clear only on the second or third television replay. At first glance, it looked as though it was Davies’ head, not Drogba’s arm, that had deflected the ball clear. Coyle may have vigorously complained about it at half time, but surely only with the benefit of a changing room television, video recorder and large dose of hindsight.
If the rule is that a handball should be ‘intentional’, then a large question mark looms over whether it should have been a penalty even had the referee seen the incident clearly.
Bolton probably have much more cause for complaint for their second penalty shout, where John Terry clearly leans towards the path of the ball and either makes contact with his arm or shoulder. In the post-game ‘was it a penalty?’ show on ESPN (that’s all they talked about), Craig Burley was adamant it was a penalty, all the while admitting that their camera angles weren’t up to it. The linesman had the best view by far and, for whatever reason, clearly indicated it wasn’t a penalty. If I was a Bolton fan, I’d feel justifiably annoyed.
Who knows what the Chelsea reaction might have been if Bolton had scored a penalty anyway? But Bolton were certainly unlucky. Chelsea fans – who should be more sensitive to dismissed penalty shouts than most – would probably admit that. But Chelsea had partially self-created bad luck of their own: Lampard hit the post with his only shot of the game and Bolton were lucky to see Jääskeläinen’s parry of a fierce Drogba freekick bounce narrowly wide off Kalou. Both could have ended with very different results.
Besides which, teams should be careful about blaming referees for defeats based on not getting a penalty (not getting three or four is a different matter – we’re looking at you, Ovrebo). They need to take action to win games themselves rather than rely on a referee being sensible, and Bolton, for all their nerve-shredding possession and pressure in the second half, had not one shot on target all evening. Not the mark of a side deserving to leave one of the hardest away trips in the league with anything more than nothing.
As it was, a little bit of luck was enough to help a marginally superior Chelsea over the line yesterday. Perhaps this luck is what champions need to become champions sometimes? Chelsea have certainly rode on a wave of luck recently. While the result at Old Trafford was fair and the refereeing errors perfectly balanced themselves out, it was certainly extremely lucky, and almost without precedent, that decisions didn’t go in Utd’s favour on their home ground. Chelsea were also lucky against Aston Villa at the weekend to keep eleven men on the pitch (Terry and Deco might have been sent off, the latter for two yellow cards) and another referee may have chosen to award a penalty to Villa after Agbonlahor tripped over Mikel’s leg.
One might even consider the seven own goals Chelsea have scored this season lucky, or the nine penalties awarded (six at Stamford Bridge, three away). Looking further back, the last minute winner against Hull on the first day of the season was fortunate after an uninspired performance from Chelsea and Ancelotti alike, while the last minute winner away against Stoke was slightly more deserved. There are, quite probably, more examples.
But it isn’t that straightforward. Chelsea have had bad luck too, losing arguably their best central midfielder, Essien, for the lion’s share of the season (again) and almost the entire defence for the last couple of months. A certain penalty wasn’t given at the San Siro when another away goal might have made the difference against Inter in the Champions League. Cech might not have been sent off in the away loss to Wigan early in the season and for some reason Jonny Evans wasn’t sent off for kung-fu kicking Drogba at Stamford Bridge. And that’s just this season. There’s Ovrebo-gate and the goal that wasn’t at Anfield, remember…
Our rivals have had slices of luck, too. Man Utd’s recent penalty against Liverpool – which was neither a foul or inside the box – is an example that readily springs to mind.
You can’t argue that bad decisions even themselves out for everyone – that is patronising to sides like Bolton who are on the wrong end of such decisions. But some of the luck Chelsea have had – and teams like Utd – has probably been down to generally being the better team in most of the games they’ve played this season (some own goals, for example, are unlucky, while others are the result of dominance and pressure in the opponent’s penalty box).
But none of that can mean that yesterday’s result didn’t reflect which side was better on the night. Luck might not even itself out for all teams, but the best side always wins the league. If Chelsea do clinch the title, it won’t be an accident.
Bullshit.. It shows that FA helps you to the title.. Feel good to win it like that?
-droga offside
-terry horrible tackle on Milner
-1-0 goal this autumn against utd
-2 clear-as-the-daylight penos against bolton
how much did the russian pay the fa is the question.
Posted by: sprite | 14 April 2010 at 12:05
I thought Owen Coyle's philosophy on the beautiful game is to "play football"
Well last night Bolton clearly came to rough CFC up and get a draw. The Drogba hanball was a penalty.
But the phrase springs to mind Mr Coyle "slings and arrows"
46 minutes ago ·
Posted by: Paul Hunter | 14 April 2010 at 12:49
Hahaha Sprite you sound like a very bitter little man, you also sound like a manyoo fan. In all honesty Chelsea have rode there luck this season at times, but have also had their fair share of luck going against them, the freak goals we conceded agsinst everton at home for example. Chelsea have been the better of the top 4 (do the scousers even count any more?) teams in head to head, you have to admit that. Maybe the Ronney injury has be a product of our luck this season aswell, who knows? (although that's not so good for the WC) but we're the ones who're 4 points clear with 4 games to go, Man Utd were deserved winners last season, and if Chelsea win it this season people will just have to admit we've been the better side this season. Simples :)
Posted by: Martin | 14 April 2010 at 12:53
Ah, well. Try to initiate a mature, rational discussion about the impact of referring decisions, own goals, Lady Luck and all the vagaries and twists of fate that affect the game....... and all you get is a bile encrusted Manc who's slowly having to come to terms with the possibility that his only reason for "supporting" Man U (i.e. because they always win) may not exist this season. Sad.
Posted by: Capleton | 14 April 2010 at 12:55
The only difference between Chelsea and Bolton is that Chelsea's 'luck' from ref decisions are plastered over all the papers, radio and TV. Do you think no smaller team has scored an offside goal, got away with a penalty or sending off? It's absolutely ridiculous to claim. Chelsea's nerves made Bolton look better than they are - otherwise it would have been another whitewash for the blues
Posted by: RB | 14 April 2010 at 13:23
I am a Chelsea fan,but I will be embarrassed if we win the Premier league this season.
We usually make our own luck,but if we win the title we will have been handed it on a plate by the most incompetent bunch of referees and assistants I have ever had the misfortune to witness.
A sad,hollow victory!
ph
Posted by: Phil Hilton | 14 April 2010 at 14:56
Drogba's cross and Anelka's goal weren't luck. All that really matters at the end of the day.
Posted by: JoshH | 14 April 2010 at 15:44
PH, you are not a real Chelsea fan. Bye.
Posted by: PH is not a Chelsea fan | 14 April 2010 at 15:58
Have to agree - it seems unlikely the views of Phil Hilton are those of a genuine Chelsea fan.
Question is, is he a Utd, Arsenal or Bolton supporter? I'm voting the former.
Posted by: bridgeviews.co.uk | 14 April 2010 at 16:31
Sprite: re:-1-0 goal this autumn against utd
If the roles had been reversed and Drogba fell to the ground like Brown did after being touched on the wrist would you have been saying it was a deserved penalty or that Drogba was a diver?
Posted by: Legz | 14 April 2010 at 18:11
ph your'e no Chelsea fan, we,ve had all the crap from the press and media over JT and Bridge and it did destablise us.We've had injuries and the ACON to deal with and we are top. If we win the league then it will be some feat!!
Posted by: springy | 14 April 2010 at 19:28
Sorry, PH, but your risibly transparent attempt at a wind up falls at the first hurdle: if you were genuinely a Chelsea fan, you would know that the only thing that we ever really need to be embarrassed about is John Dempsey's 1970's haircut.
Posted by: Capleton | 14 April 2010 at 21:06
Luck is almost required when winning a championship. Luck to avoid key injuries, luck get a favorable schedule, luck of good referee decisions. I could go on, but just about any team that has won a championship, I could argue, luck has played a part.
I still worry about us against Tottenham at the weekend, an later a Liverpool team foaming at the mouth to derail us. Whenever we look poised to take an advantage over Man U we have slipped this season. We need to stay focused and play well.
Posted by: Michael Hepp | 14 April 2010 at 23:32
You clever lot.I've been sussed as a Man.U. fan.This is truly the thinking fans' website!
Sincere good luck against Spurs,although you are bound to win with 15 men on the pitch,including the 4 officials!
PH
Posted by: Phil Hilton | 15 April 2010 at 15:55
Phil - we do indeed try and have a bit of a think from time to time. One day - one day - we may even be able to aspire to your astounding level of sarcasm.
Fair play though. League isn't done though - won't believe we've regained the title until it's done. Saturday may well be pivotal...
Posted by: bridgeviews.co.uk | 15 April 2010 at 16:52