Ferguson blames officials for dubious penalty

Manager Alex Ferguson blamed officials on Saturday for making a mistake in awarding Chelsea a late penalty in Manchester United's 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge.

"It's a major decision that's cost us the game," Ferguson told Manchester United TV. "To give a penalty for that in a game of such importance, on the linesman's say-so, is absolutely diabolical."

Assistant referee Shaun Proctor-Green flagged for the 86th minute spotkick after a Michael Carrick handball. Michael Ballack, who had headed Chelsea ahead in the first half, sent goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar the wrong way to give his side a win that pulled them level on 81 points with United at the top of the table.

"Granted, the ball hit his (Carrick's) hand but he couldn't get out of the road," Ferguson said. "He didn't lift his hands above his shoulders or above his head, and the ball was going straight to Rio Ferdinand anyway. The referee should have seen that.

"Earlier, when (Cristiano) Ronaldo came on, he was grappled almost to the floor by Ballack at a United corner and it was a clear penalty kick. "The game hinged on major decisions and unfortunately they didn't go our way."

By contrast, Chelsea manager Avram Grant described the win that kept alive the London side's title hopes as "very emotional". Grant, who has suffered criticism for Chelsea's dour play in recent months, said he enjoyed the fans' noisy appreciation of an exciting match.

"I think they appreciated the commitment and spirit of the players and their energy," he said. The Israeli said that, despite having a far inferior goal difference, Chelsea could get more points than United in their two remaining games to claim their third title in four seasons.

"You can't reach this stage without expecting to win ... Otherwise you would not be in sport. You need to be optimistic. We are optimistic," he said.

Grant praised substitute Andriy Shevchenko, for making the "save of the year" off the line in the dying moments of the game. He also said midfielder Frank Lampard, missing after the death of his mother, would decide for himself whether to return for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.

"We need to leave the decision to him ... on the way to excellence you also have to be human," he said. Ballack, named man-of-the-match, said he had felt his responsibility keenly when he stepped up to the spot for the kick normally taken by Lampard. "But for me it was not a problem. I can handle the pressure," he said.

Chelsea captain John Terry added the side were convinced of victory from the start. "I think you saw today we want to win this Premiership to take it away from Manchester United," he said.