Raucous boos greeted the final whistle at Cardiff City Stadium after a late double salvo from Chelsea inflicted a hammer blow to the hosts’ survival hopes.
But the jeers of derision weren’t aimed at Cardiff City’s players or their performance. They were aimed at referee Craig Pawson and his two assistants, Ed Smart and Richard West.
There was fury from the Bluebirds that Cezar Azpilicueta was offside when heading in the Chelsea equaliser, while Antonio Rudiger was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after fouling Kenneth Zohore when he appeared to be the last man.
After Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead, with Victor Camarasa having scored Cardiff’s opener, the Bluebirds’ misery was compounded with Sean Morrison denied a late penalty that might have salvaged a point.
Azpilicueta offside
It was Mr Smart who made the call not to flag Azpilicueta offside and there’s absolutely no debate here.
The Chelsea captain was at least a yard offside when heading in Marcos Alonso’s flick-on from a corner - or in Neil Warnock’s words “two f***ing yards offside!” as he screamed at Sarri at the end, before standing and staring in utter disbelief at the officials in the centre circle at the error.
Cardiff’s luck was out here. It was claimed that Chelsea’s Willian was standing in the linesman’s line of sight and therefore he didn’t raise his flag.
Rudiger red?
The scores were locked at 1-1 when Cardiff launched a long ball towards substitute Kenneth Zohore, looking to re-establish the lead they’d fought so hard for.
The Dane looked to be latching onto the pass when he was clearly tripped by Rudiger. Pawson elected to show a yellow card, judging that Kepa Arrizabalaga would have made up the ground to clear with the keeper charging out of his box.
Former Bluebird Danny Gabbidon said the decision was the right one, though many home fans disagreed.
Jamie Carragher's message to Cardiff City chiefs about Neil Warnock
“I think Craig Pawson just about gets that decision right,” said the BBC pundit.
“Toni Rudiger gets the wrong side and it's clumsy but the yellow card is correct.”
Tell that to Cardiff fans. Their side could have played the final few minutes against 10 men and would have backed themselves to hang onto a point at the least.
Morrison penalty shout(s)
Cardiff’s captain had a couple of these throughout the game, but to add to the maelstrom of controversy at the end of this game, he was convinced one should have been given right at the death.
He was seemingly hauled down in an arm lock by Chelsea substitute Olivier Giroud, which could have easily been given and would have allowed goalscorer Camarasa a chance to double his tally for the match from the penalty spot.
When your luck’s out, it’s really out as Morrison surmised after the game.
"I'm just disappointed,” he said. “We put in such a good performance. The referee has missed two penalties and I've been told their first goal was offside by quite a way.
“I am gutted but what can you do? I thought we did enough - the blocks and tackles we put in the way. It hurts. I had a feeling it was offside but you are never sure. We come away with no points and that is that.
"The first one (penalty) when the man grabs my neck, it is tough for the ref, and then there is the second one where he grabbed my arm.
"Last 10 minutes, to concede two goals, things like this don't go for you when you are at the bottom.”
