Blog: Chelsea penalty debate has gone, time for Villa derby

Referee Andre Marriner's controversial 94th Steven Reid was galling and deprived Albion of an historic win and the chance to become the first team to inflict a home Premier League defeat on Jose Mourinho. As it was, we had to settle for a point after a courageous and resolute performance.

A few Albion fans have spoken of Marriner's supposed childhood allegiance to Aston Villa, something which only serves to add to the sense of injustice. I don't believe for one minute that this was a factor in the penalty award, I'd like to think that it was just a relatively honest error of judgement on the referee's part.

Ramires has to be considered the true villain of the piece; Marriner, by contrast, merely a Villan!

A theory I do buy into, however, is that referees, as most human beings probably would, will sub-consciously question the consequences of giving or not giving a particular decision in the split-second they have to make that decision. Sadly for Albion, those consequences are arguably far greater for a referee should he deprive Manchester United of a last minute penalty at Old Trafford, for example, than they would be by not awarding one to Albion on a Tuesday night at Hull City.

It has to influence a small percentage of decisions, surely it's human nature? I should point out that I'm not suggesting a referee will intentionally award a penalty that isn't one, but a 50:50 decision might easily become a 60:40 when 40,000 home supporters, 11 players and a notoriously critical manager are screaming at you, for example.

That's why I believe the publicity surrounding the award and Albion's subsequent complaint might not be a bad thing. I recall Tony Pulis complaining vehemently about Stoke City being denied a number of penalties back in November 2010; a week later they were awarded two contentious penalties at the Hawthorns and won 3-0.

Obviously I'm not suggesting that we're now due a number of soft penalties, or that any particular penalty award is pre-meditated by a prejudiced referee – they have a difficult enough job and in the main, we have some of the best officials in the World – but after Steve Clarke's public condemnation and Mike Riley's equally public apology, does any referee want to be seen to be publicly exacerbating this supposed season-long injustice that we've fallen victim of? We shall see.

As for the game itself, I thought Albion acquitted themselves admirably. Chelsea's first goal came as a direct result of Liam Ridgewell's schoolboy error, not clearing the ball in your own six-yard box when presented with the opportunity is something you'd be shouted at for as a 10-year-old.

Fortunately for Liam it wasn't a fatal error, nor is it a fundamental technical flaw, I fully expect that if he finds himself in a similar situation in the first half on Monday, he'll take somebody's head off in the East Stand. I actually thought his performance in the main was good, along with all the back five.

Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley were colossal again.

Another impressive performer was Shane Long, in the week before the game I'd questioned his form and future at the club. Sorry Shane, I got it wrong. He looked back to his terrier-like best and it was great to see. He certainly enjoys playing against John Terry, I'm not sure John Terry will say the same about Shane Long.

Another resounding positive for me was seeing Steve Clarke conduct himself in such a dignified manner after the game, particularly compared to his opposite number. The players' grievances were slightly more conspicuous than Clarke's, let's just hope they can channel that into positive energy come Monday night's derby against Aston Villa.

The importance of the Villa derby is usually dependent on the geographical heritage and age of the person concerned. I was born in West Bromwich but spent most of childhood in Hamstead/Great Barr in the 80's and 90's which, speaking purely from a footballing perspective, was about as much fun as being water-boarded whilst being made to watch X-Factor on repeat.

Put simply it was Albion or Villa, and as if some of their supporters needed an excuse to be scornful or condescending – some, mystifyingly, still seem to manage it now – they were considerably better than us at the time.

Don't get me wrong, the Black Country derby is a far more natural rivalry, the atmosphere of which gets the juices flowing like no other, but despite having many Villa-supporting friends, the very mention of their club stirs an irrationality within me that I struggle to comprehend.

I actually think we've got a better side on paper than Villa at the moment, but often when I see them play, their work-rate is impressive and I think we'll need to match that. Equally, they have one or two players who can turn a match on its head.

Ominously Christian Benteke's been relatively quiet in recent weeks as he continues a comeback from injury, he and Gabriel Agbonlahor saved some of their best work for the corresponding fixture last season. I think we'll need another solid performance from the back five to win this game, but it's certainly one we're capable of winning. Come on you Baggies!