Keeper ball-hop hurts Mackay

Chelsea 4 Cardiff 1

The Cardiff manager found himself clinging to his job last week despite taking the Welsh side into the Premier League for the first time after so many near-misses by his predecessors.

He survived that boardroom battle, even though his trusty lieutenant, Iain Moody, was replaced by a 23-year-old friend of the owner’s son who has no football experience, surely an ominous sign.

Then on Saturday Mackay’s men had the cruellest blow in a match against the biggest-spending club in British football. With Cardiff leading 1-0 after Jordan Mutch took advantage of terrible defending from serial offender David Luiz, they were frustrating a Chelsea side who could not find a way past David Marshall. But as the goalkeeper prepared for a drop-kick upfield by bouncing the ball, Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o stuck out a boot, poked the ball away to Eden Hazard, and eventually it was drilled into the net by the Belgian midfielder. It should have been a free-kick to Cardiff and a yellow card to Eto’o for transgressing rule 12 which states that while the ball is in the goalkeeper’s control he may not be tackled.

But Anthony Taylor and his referee allowed the goal to stand and afterwards explained to Mackay that Marshall had lost control of the ball by dropping it, something that was clearly not the case, as television replays proved.

It was a costly mistake by the officials allowing Chelsea back into a game they eventually won with three goals in the closing 25 minutes.

Mackay was understandably unhappy, but philosophical, having seen it all before. When he was a coach at Watford five years ago, his manager, Aidy Boothroyd, was sent off for protesting when Reading were awarded a goal by 25-year-old referee Stuart Atwell even though the ball had not gone anywhere near the goal-line.

“We were on the end of the ghost goal at Watford when the ball didn’t even go in the net,” said Mackay.

“The following week you’re back at it and you’re just playing the following team. It’s not something that gives much of a hangover. But I’m pretty sure it will be part of the news in terms of radio, tv and press.”

He will bring it up with the Premier League’s head of refereeing, though.

“Referees are human and linesmen are too. They’re not making these [mistakes] on purpose. I’ll ask Mike Riley and his team to look at it, and then I’ll accept what it is that comes back from them.”

Petr Cech, Marshall’s opposite number, conceded the goal should not have stood.

“As far as I know, one motion is counted when you hold the ball, throw it in the air to kick or make a drop kick on half volley, it is still counted as one motion. In between, no-one should touch the ball. I think what Samuel did was very clever and unusual. You see so many times people bouncing the ball and no-one having that idea.”

The most famous incident that springs to mind is when George Best nicked the ball off England keeper Gordon Banks in the ’70s, although Northern Ireland were denied a goal on that occasion.

“When people wanted to nick it off you as you kicked the ball, it is obviously a foul. But this is a different situation. If I was in that situation, I don’t know if I was in the wrong or the referee because it isn’t the same,” added Cech. “If I was David, I’d be disappointed to concede a goal like that, but I don’t know who was wrong, him or the referee.”

Cech was happier to talk about celebrating his 300th game for Chelsea, who moved into second spot above Liverpool. Eto’o scored his first goal for the club since arriving in the summer and with Oscar and Hazard scoring again in the closing minutes, the game was comfortable for Chelsea.

By then, Jose Mourinho had been sent to the stands after showing his frustration with the officials one time to many, and the Portuguese sat among his fans for the final 20 minutes or so. Not that his goalkeeper even noticed.

“I didn’t even realise he’d been sent off. I am watching what’s on the pitch, not around the pitch.”

Mackay was upbeat, despite his team’s fate: “I’m not apologising for getting beat by four rather than two. It’s a tough league and I’m really proud of my group.”

CHELSEA 4-5-1: Cech 7; Ivanovic 7, Terry 6, Luiz 5, Bertrand 6; Mata 6, Ramires 7, Lampard 7, Willian 6, Hazard 7; Eto’o 7.

Subs: Oscar 6 for Mata (59), Torres 6 for Bertrand (64), Azpilicueta 6 for Eto’o (69).

CARDIFF 4-4-2: Marshall 5; Taylor 6, Turner 6, Caulker 7, Theophile-Catherine 6; Whittingham 7, Cowie 5, Medel 6, Gunarsson 7; Mutch 6. Odemwingie 6.

Subs: Kim 5 for Cowie (56), Campbell 6 for Odemwingie (67), Gestede for Gunarsson (80).

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Man of the match: Eden Hazard.