Allardyce vents anger claiming ‘referee cheated us of point’

ON Grand National day, this was supposed to be Arsenal’s Devon Loch moment.

Having led the race for Champions League qualification until the home straight, Arsene Wenger’s thoroughbreds were suddenly feeling the hot breath of an unfancied Bolton Wanderers on their necks. They began to choke here, too, but finally cleared their throats and eased through the tape although a whiff of controversy accompanied their triumph.

Bolton departed North London with a cloud of rancorous frustration following them up the motorway. It is one thing to be beaten by Arsenal, whose sniffy attitude to Wanderers’ forceful approach has long been a bone of contention, but quite another to be cheated out of a point. And that, claimed Sam Allardyce, was most certainly the case on Saturday.