Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas makes referee complaint
Last updated on .From the section Football
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has complained to referees chief Mike Riley about the performance of the officials during his side's 3-1 loss at Manchester United on Sunday.
Replays showed United's first two goals were both scored by players who had been in offside positions.
Villas-Boas said: "I'm very unhappy with a poor display from the referees that had a decisive role in the result.
"I don't take it very lightly. You expect the linesman to do his job."
The former Porto manager, 33, added: "I already went further ahead with the situation by speaking to the correct people.
"We all feel very, very down when the referee [Phil Dowd] had such an impact on the result."
Sunday's loss at Old Trafford was Villas-Boas's first defeat as Chelsea boss. It is also the first time a team under his management have been beaten in a league match for 17 months, continued over from his Porto days.
The Blues fell behind in the eighth minute when Chris Smalling headed home, before Nani scored a second from long range before half-time.
Wayne Rooney added a third for the home side in the final minute before the break.
Fernando Torres scored what would prove to be a consolation goal - only his second in 24 appearances since joining from Liverpool - but it could have been different had the Spanish striker converted in front of an open goal instead of firing wide with seven minutes to go.
Villas-Boas refused to comment on his £50m striker's state of mind, saying: "It's not a question about an individual player.
"I'm very, very happy with how the team responded. Everybody is strong and has the correct frame of mind."
However, the Chelsea boss all but confirmed Torres would have to wait for the chance to redeem himself this week, revealing he planned to field a number of young players for tomorrow night's Carling Cup third-round tie with Fulham.
He added: "It gives us a very good idea of where we stand regarding the young players that we are trying to bring through."
