'It's a joke': Chelsea manager lashes out over 'horrible' scenes

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has slammed what he described as "horrible" officiating during his side's controversial 1-1 draw with Brighton in the English Premier League.

The Blues dropped more points to allow table-topping Manchester City - who won 1-0 against Brentford - to take an eight-point lead into the new year.

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Chelsea looked poised for victory after Romelu Lukaku headed them into a first-half lead but Brighton substitute Danny Welbeck struck in stoppage time for a 1-1 draw.

Blues wing-back Reece James limped off in the 27th minute with a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Marcos Alonso.

The home side went ahead immediately, when Lukaku shook off the attentions of Neal Maupay after a tussle to power a header past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from a Mason Mount corner.

But Graham Potter's side came back strongly, with Adam Lallana and the impressive Yves Bissouma testing Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy either side of half-time.

It looked as though it was going to be a familiar story for Brighton, who have struggled to score this season, but substitute Welbeck had other ideas, heading home Marc Cucurella's cross in the 91st minute.

Tuchel couldn't hide his anger after the match, insisting that Chelsea were denied a "100 percent penalty" after Christian Pulisic appeared to be brought down in the box by Joel Veltman.

The VAR officials deemed there not to be enough evidence on replays to overturn the on-field decision of referee Mike Dean.

Chelsea's boss was also fuming that the referee blew his whistle for an incident involving Mason Mount just before Welbeck’s equaliser.

“I would never usually say it, but we have 100 per cent a penalty against Christian Pulisic, a 50/50 challenge from Mason Mount before the equaliser.

“The ball is going into the net, why does he need to whistle before the ball is over the line? Why? We have VAR to check, why can we not wait? If he decides then it is a foul then decide it, but why is he so sure? Does he want to keep the tension up?

“The penalty is a joke, honestly a joke, not to interfere from VAR.”

Tuchel reiterated his concerns about player welfare after the decision to press on with Premier League fixtures despite record cases of Covid-19.

“It was clear we would struggle, we have simply way too many players with whom we don’t know what we can demand. We have long injuries, they come from Covid, I simply don’t know what they are capable of doing.

“We started very, very well until the injury for Reece James, which was a huge blow. Andreas was until then one of the top players on the pitch.

“It is too much, that is why I can understand when you play against a Brighton side with nothing to lose and play with confidence so you have to overcome difficult moments.”

Man City make most of Chelsea slip-up

Meanwhile, Phil Foden's first-half goal was enough to give champions Manchester City a 10th consecutive league win as they took full advantage of injury-hit Chelsea's slip-up at Stamford Bridge.

Pep Guardiola's men now have 50 points after 20 matches, putting them eight clear of second-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool, who lost to Leicester on Wednesday, are a further point behind.

The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged English football's fixture list, leaving some clubs needing to play catch-up, but 2021 will end with City out on their own.

Brentford threatened in the opening stages in west London, but City took the lead in the 16th minute when Foden cleverly tucked in a pinpoint cross from Kevin De Bruyne.

Foden and Jack Grealish were left out of the starting XI for City's wins over Newcastle and Leicester after they were pictured on a night out following the 7-0 home victory over Leeds.

But the England pair were back on the teamsheet on Wednesday and Foden's goal made it a perfect 10 out of 10 for City.

Guardiola, who hailed the "exceptional" Foden, refused to be complacent despite his side's huge lead at the top of the Premier League.

"There are 54 points to play for," he told the BBC. "It is not expected to have this distance for eight and nine, but Liverpool play one game less. But it is 54 points.

"In December no one is champion. We are going to lose games. I see in my mind Arsenal, Chelsea, Southampton coming.... I cannot say more than congratulations to the team but we must focus."

with agencies

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