It’s been a key weekend of Right Result action at the top and bottom of the Premier League.
Chelsea remain as the leaders of the Right Result version following their incredible win against Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. The Blues just hung on to a four-goal advantage but they should, in more ways than one, have had a far more comfortable afternoon.
For starters, they should have taken the lead earlier with a penalty following an unpunished trip by Gretar Steinsson on Ashley Cole. The Icelandic defender was later wrongly punished for an unintentional handball that led to a Chelsea penalty and their third goal.
For referee Peter Walton, it was a repeat of his controversial decision in the Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur game last week and the third time this season that he has awarded a penalty for handball against Bolton.
The visitors’ unlikely fightback began with Andy O’Brien’s first goal for over four years. Unfortunately, the Republic of Ireland centre-back was caught in an offside position when Gary Cahill instinctively flicked the ball on.
That all means that Chelsea should have won by a 4-2 margin to retain their one-point advantage ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United.
At the other end of the table, on their home form alone, it appears very likely that Stoke City will retain their Premier League status. It’s not looking so good for the Potters in the world of the Right Result though as they have now been deducted a total of five points to leave them firmly entrenched in the bottom three.
City are denied their point from the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at the Britannia Stadium as the corner that led directly to their goal should have been a goal-kick. In his previous role as a Match of the Day pundit, new Toon boss Alan Shearer would have highlighted that the crucial final touch came off home forward Ricardo Fuller.
In contrast to the actual Premier League table, Blackburn Rovers join Stoke in the drop zone leaving Newcasle and Middlesbrough in relatively comfortable positions.
See the full Right Result table here and previous Right Result archives here. To learn more about Right Result and to follow it every week, click here.
If you think the officials got a decision wrong on the weekend, something that would have resulted in a goal or prevented one, let us know in the comments below.
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