Avram Grant mumbled:

"I think they (the Chelsea fans) were just excited at the situation (when they shouted 'you don't know what you're doing' at him). But I’m not complaining about the fans or their support. They are behind us

"We missed too many easy ones . If you look at the last two or three years, what made Chelsea champions for two years and United champions last year was that they were teams that didn’t miss chances.

"You cannot fail to hit the target or score from five yards or seven yards, like we have been doing.

"If we’re in the same position as we are now when the players come back from Africa and their injuries, it will be very good for us.”

Not so sh*t and not so sickened then as we were at the JJB - at least by our own side.

However our usual yuletide misery was extended today on a ground where we've enjoyed nothing but poor fortune and the occasional refereeing rick to spoil those times when the home side haven't wiped the floor with us.

With Chelsea missing a host of familiar faces, any sort of result from Wigan would surely have sent us out at the first whistle with renewed optimism that we'd finally get something here.

As it was though, we began in a relatively lifeless manner with the Blues failing to get their passing game together, but still making too many inroads towards our goal for comfort.

An opening goal duly arrived and although Martins proceeded to miss a couple of good half- chances when his first, second and third touches let him down, there seemed little reason for optimism at the half time interval.

And when Given was quickly required to scoop a Butt clearance from under his own crossbar after the restart, things looked no more favourable for Allardyce and Co.

However, that incident seemed to spark a more positive display, with an equaliser bundled home by Butt, who had popped up at the sharp end due to the increasing influence of Faye in a midfield anchor position (we were virtually 4-1-4-1 at this point).

It's worth noting also that N'Zogbia was the prime mover in the goal - his dart forward with the ball a reminder that he's the most dangerous dribbler on our books and will always do his best work going forward than trying to defend.

Butt's goal/assist was also reward for a spirited display in which he tried to lead by example - a captain without the armband, in our eyes.

At that point Chelsea were looking as devoid of inspiration as they had been deprived of first choice players through injury and suspension, with a real sense that their unbeaten home league run could come to an end after 72 matches.

The home fans had been quiet all afternoon and after grumbles greeting the replacement of Joe Cole, Avram Grant's decision to withdraw Michael Ballack led to shouts of "you don't know what you're doing...."

And had Duff and Owen been a little more match fit, then that disquiet could have been turned into real division in the stands - something that we've been not totally unfamiliar with in 2007 ourselves...

A battling Toon display was left in tatters though with three minutes remaining, when linesman Mike Cairns incredibly failed to see Kalou standing on his own by the penalty spot as he netted - before running away with a guilty expression on his face and a sly look across at said official.

Butt and Given led the protests towards the linesman with both yellow-carded. Meanwhile the decision of the Stamford Bridge giant screen operator to replay the incident merely added to the mayhem, as it became obvious to all present that the officials were guilty of serious misjudgment. 

The impact of the returning Owen and Duff needs to be immediate as we look for a lift, but it does beg the question of why we were unable to raise our game at Wigan in the manner we did so here.

Putting aside the sense of injustice and righteous indignation, it's difficult not to feel that Sam is battling against insurmountable odds. 

Be it the latest Barton debacle, the loss of his African contingent or today's late winner - at the moment this looks to be going only one way - into a brick wall. 

Despite the sympathetic words of Chris Mort who visited the dressing room after the game, our downturn in fortunes seems as inevitable and predictable as we'd feared - and there's more to come from an unforgiving fixture list.

Had we taken a point from this game it would have been a creditable return - as was the draw with Arsenal.

However what will ultimately bring the current boss down are the manner of the performances against Derby, Wigan and Fulham.

Our approach and play brought one success from those three must-win games, and that joyless victory was due to a late favourable refereeing decision in South West London - a bit like today's face-saver for Chelsea.

Despite the reams of copy from the manager and his supporters in the game, the suspicion remains amongst many fans that our current squad would be capable of producing something more watchable under different guidance.

On the evidence of the first half of the season, we don't see that changing frankly.

It's not just in the dressing room that confidence seems in short supply - the hearts and minds of the support haven't been engaged to date by what has been served up. 

That's nothing to do with great or unrealistic expectations, just common sense.

Biffa