It's true that the benefits of slow motion replays revealed that Chelsea were a little unlucky against West Ham on Sunday. Noble did indeed appear to handle as he drive towards goal to set up Bellamy's goal. And Lampard was clipped as he surged into the penalty area in search of a winner. But they were both very difficult to spot. The handball was virtually on the goalline and only revealed by a slight raising of Nobel's arm as he nudged the ball forward with his bicep. And the trip on Lampard caught his foot, knocking him off balance, but the moment was quickly past. Mike Riley would have had to have had a perfect view of events to give either decision with confidence.
But Chelsea can't complain. They huffed and puffed and failed to create more than a couple of serious chances while dominating play almost completely. They need to improve their football.
The only area I would be criticial of Riley is in his treatment of Bellamy, whose loud and unpleasant dissent was constant. Riley's tolerance of Bellamy's loutish behaviour affects me directly. West Ham supporters who play in the Kent County League see this behaviour on TV and think they can do exactly the same because he is not being punished. Bellamy should have been shown a second yellow on Sunday. The French say; "pour encourager les autres."
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