I HATE United having the reputation of being whingers when it comes to referees but at Chelsea what else could the Reds do than have a gripe?

My philosophy is that over the course of the season things will work themselves out evenly but after the match at Stamford Bridge it was hard to see that long term picture and be comforted by it.

Not for a while has one of the Big Four showdowns seen a red hot favourite installed to win the match.

But you have to say that was the position going into the match with Chelsea's form earning them the right to be the bookies' best bet.

After our more subdued offerings, it was hard to complain that United were being looked on as the underdogs. But you wouldn't have guessed it during the match.

However, it was all undone by Martin Atkinson's dubious refereeing. I know United will be the target of opposition fans complaining that we are always having a moan, but I would have held my hands up on this occasion and said it was a bad decision even if Chelsea had won that free- kick against us.

Forget the Didier Drogba's possible foul on Wes Brown when that crucial free-kick was delivered and the fact he was offside - it shouldn't have been a free-kick in the first place!

Blatant

It was harsh to give it and Darren Fletcher must be wondering what on earth is going on at the moment.

After being booked for diving against CSKA Moscow when he should have won a penalty, the Scot then suffered again when he tackled Ashley Cole. Both decisions were so unfair on him.

I don't think Sunday's match deserved to be settled like that.

And it's a pain that the Reds now have to sit and stew until the Everton match a week on Saturday.

But in those moments when they have time to reflect on the Chelsea game, they must look at the positives. For a start it was a far better performance than we've shown of late.

A big plus for me was Wayne Rooney's display up front and I feel we are entering another Rooney goal-blitz period.

The return of Fletcher is also a major boost as he endorsed the feeling that, while we might not have another Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, we do have somebody very powerful in midfield.