Avram Grant, thrown the suggestion that there may have been good fortune attached to Chelsea's 2-0 win at Pride Park on Saturday evening, had little sympathy for the argument.

The question during his post-match press conference referred to Derby's belief that an erroneous offside decision had cost them a second-half goal and that Andriy Shevchenko had committed a foul in the build-up to Chelsea's second goal.

'We dominated the game almost 100 per cent and we deserved to win absolutely,' defended the victorious manager.

'I don't know about decisions here and there but we had the ball almost all of the time. We scored two goals, the first one again from a very good combination, as we have done before. That is what is important to me.'

Results-wise it was a pretty good day for Grant's side with Man United's loss at Bolton allowing the gap to the reigning champions to close to two points.

'At this stage of the season we need to win, we need to progress the quality of the team and we did it, and I am pleased with this,' said Grant.

However, less satisfying than the final score was finishing the game with only 10 men - Michael Essien sent-off just seconds from the end by referee Andre Marriner, in charge of his first Chelsea game, for an arm-up clash with Kenny Miller.

Grant said that the incident would be viewed again but that he expected an appeal against the red card to be launched.

'I don't like to speak against the ref, I haven't done it many times in my life and I don't want to do it now. But I have a feeling, and I was told it before I came to Chelsea, I think that we are an easy target for red cards.'

'It was the same against Man United and against Fulham and those games we lost points and everybody saw that it was not a red card. I don't like the idea we are an easy target.'

Another aspect of the game at Pride Park that didn't meet the manager's approval was the systematic booing of all Chelsea's England players by some of the home fans.

'I didn't like it. I think all the players playing for England tried to do their best but it didn't work out. I can understand the disappointment of the supporters, all of England wants that England can qualify, but I think also the players want that. They need the support now.'

On a day when three points had been won, Grant did finish on a positive note by praising the 90 minute performances from John Terry and Ashley Cole, both back from injury, while also expressing hope that Didier Drogba may be back for Champions League duty on Wednesday.


This game can be seen in full on Chelsea TV at 6pm on Sunday. Highlights will be available on Chelsea TV Online from midnight on Sunday.