Leicester reaction
Chelsea reaction

By Mark Wiltshire

Leicester were on the receiving end of yet another poor refereeing decision in an important FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea emerged winners in yet another ill-tempered battle between these two sides.

Goals either side of half-time from Gus Poyet and George Weah gave the Londoners a comfortable lead before right at the death, Matt Elliott produced a wonderfuly crafted strike but it was too little, too late for the Foxes.

Unsurprisingly, Steve Walsh and Dennis Wise failed to finish the game having both seen red. Walsh was sent off for elbowing striker Chris Sutton. Skipper Dennis Wise took a familiar early bath for his second bookable offence in the 90th minute for handball.

Chelsea are now installed as favourites to win the competition for the second time in four seasons. Their reward is a quarter-final tie with this seasons major giantkillers, Second Division Gillingham.

The turning point of the match occurred with the score at 1-0 and just two minutes played of the second half. Chris Sutton appeared to barge his way past Phil Gilchrist, pulling at his shirt, before setting up strike partner George Weah to fire home (pictured below, left).

City fans only have to think back to a fifth round replay in 1997 when referee Mike Reed adjudged Erland Johnsen had been felled by Spencer Prior when it looked likem the Norwegian had taken a dive. That season, Chelsea went on to win the Cup will lightening strike twice?

All in all, it was a bad day at the office for Martin ONeills side who also had Steve Walsh sent off in the 60th minute for a blatant and nasty off-the-ball elbow on Sutton (pictured below right). Perhaps some retribution for the former Blackburn strikers part in the controversial second that eventually proved decisive.

In the first-half, Gus Poyet's opened the scoring in the 35th minute with his 10th of the season. He produced a volley from the edge of the box that squirmed under the body of an unsighted Peggy Arphexad, in for the unfit Tim Flowers, after Weah had nodded on a Dennis Wise right-wing cross.

To highlight the intense nature of these games, referee Graham Poll booked five players in eight minutes as the red-blooded battle came to the boil midway through the first half.

Once again Martin ONeill was forced to shuffle his pack in the absence of Tony Cottee. This time Steve Walsh got the nod to partner Emile Heskey but it was the Chelsea strike force of Weah and Sutton that looked the more potent.

Leicesters danger from set pieces was nearly reaped its benefits early on. A floated Taggart free-kick found Theo Zagorakis who fired over from just outside the box in the first minute. Then it was Zagorakis who took a free-kick which Walsh headed firmly at goalkeeper Ed de Goey.

Chelsea responded as Sutton was close with his free-kick whilst Poyet managed to hit the bar with his after good work from Weah in the 25th minute but the flow of the game was constantly disrupted by unpleasant niggly fouls.

A slip by De Goey did give them one opening but Marcel Desailly swooped to clear and and Chelsea threatened again with substitute John Terry's header striking the post and Arphexad saving well from Petrescu.

Elliott did manage to find time in a crowded penalty area to pick his spot deep into injury-time to pull a goal back for the visitors. But there was no time left for them find an equaliser and, after the final whistle had blown, the recriminations began.

Teams

Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Desailly, Hogh (Terry 45), Harley, Petrescu, Deschamps, Wise, Poyet, Weah, Sutton (Flo 70).
Subs Not Used: Zola, Morris, Cudicini.
Sent Off: Wise (90).
Booked: Petrescu, Wise, Sutton.
Goals: Poyet 35, Weah 48.

Leicester: Arphexad, Walsh, Taggart, Gilchrist, Sinclair, Zagorakis (Fenton 76), Savage, Eadie, Impey (Stewart 76), Elliott, Heskey (Gunnlaugsson 78).
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Campbell.
Sent Off: Walsh (60).
Booked: Eadie, Sinclair, Walsh, Elliott.
Goals: Elliott 90.

Att: 30,141
Ref: G Poll (Tring).

O'NEILL SLAMS "CRETIN" BATES

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill tonight labelled Chelsea chairman Ken Bates a "football cretin" in a bitter aftermath to the controversial FA Cup fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge.

A fuming O'Neill (pictured below, left) let fly at Bates' comments on his side in his programme notes.

O'Neill said: "On top of everything you get footballing cretins like Ken Bates writing in his programme notes that we'd come along and play for penalties.

"If that's the case he doesn't know his facts. In the two times we've been to Wembley we've never actually had penalties or extra-time or replays. So he's got that wrong.

"We played Chelsea here two weeks ago and played them off the pitch. We should've scored five or six. He mustn't have been at that game. He must have been inside a Chinese restaurant or something."

The build-up to Weah's strike, saw Sutton appear to wrestle Gerry Taggart to the ground, but referee Graham Poll waved play on and moments later Chelsea were two ahead.

O'Neill added on Sky Sports: "It was a decision by the referee which changed the game. We don't need to give Chelsea big decisions, they are a splendid, excellent side, make no mistake about that.

"I don't mind if we get beaten fairly and squarely, but at the end of the day a decision has turned it. We've got to pick ourselves up and head down the motorway now."

Leicester defender Taggart (pictured below, right) was also less than pleased with referee Poll's performance.

Taggart said: "On the day I think they were a better side. George Weah showed his true colours today because he was a different class, he took his goal really well.

"I don't think we have any qualms about the result, but the players are not happy about what led to Weah's goal.

"If you look at the second goal on the replay, he's clearly pulling my shirt as I'm going to clear.

"He's pulled my shirt big-time and the referee has just blatantly missed it. The linesman has missed it when it should have been a free-kick.

"That goal after half-time killed us off really and with Steve Walsh being sent off we were finished really.

"We've got to put this behind us now though and defeat Aston Villa to reach the Worthington Cup final."

WEAH HAPPY TO STAY AT CHELSEA
Chelsea striker George Weah (pictured below, left) tonight offered his strongest hint yet he could opt to make his loan switch from AC Milan permanent at the end of the current season.

He said: "I'm happy the fans adore me and I hope that the future will be good for me. I love it in England already. I hope things can work out for me to stay and if not it's still a great achievement to be at Chelsea in England.

"That was an important win for us against a team with good spirit who came to win this match.

"It was good to win for the club and it would be a good success for me in England to reach the FA Cup final.

"I'm very happy it came with a good performance and I think our coach is very satisfied.