Fergie blast at match officials

(GSM) – Sir Alex Ferguson slammed the match officials as Chelsea leapfrogged Manchester United at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

A sluggish start by the champions at Old Trafford enabled the visitors to open the scoring through Joe Cole and dictate much of the play before the interval.

“It’s a disappointing result,” said Sir Alex.

“I thought we looked leggy in the first half. We took too long to get going. Chelsea were by far the better team.”

“But in the second half we did well and we were unfortunate not to get something from the game. We dominated that second period and there’s always that chance we can rescue it. But we just didn’t get there today.”

Unfortunate may be putting it mildly – some might say grossly unlucky, considering Didier Drogba was clearly offside when he made it 2-0 to the Blues.

“What I can’t understand is the linesman was directly in line with it,” said Sir Alex.

“There’s nobody in front of him and he gets it wrong. In a game of that magnitude you really need quality officials. We didn’t get them today and it was a poor, poor performance.”

The appointment of referee Mike Dean for this game had been criticised in midweek by another aggrieved manager, Burnley’s Brian Laws, but Sir Alex wouldn’t be drawn on that.

“I don’t know about that. I’m not going into that. When I saw it was Mike Dean, I did worry, I must admit. Plenty of people are criticising him but I’m not going to go down that road.”

Whatever the reasons for United’s defeat, there is no doubt the Barclays Premier League pendulum has now swung in favour of Carlo Ancelotti’s victors.

“Chelsea are favourites now, no question. There are five games left and they are two points ahead and four goals better off in goal difference. They’re in the driving seat, no question about that.”

“I’m certain we’ll respond. But we could win our next five games and not win the league. If Chelsea win their five, they’re champions,” United boss responded confidently.