There was yet more controversy in a Chelsea game after midfielder Cesc Fabregas was booked for simulation when the Spaniard said that there was clear contact.

Chelsea could manage only a 1-1 draw with Southampton, who have been surprise challengers for a top four spot this season. However, the result could have been very different had referee Anthony Taylor had awarded a penalty for Chelsea when Fabregas went down inside the box in the second half.

Matt Targett’s challenge on the Spanish midfielder produced a clear contact, but Taylor alleged that Fabregas produced a simulation in order to gain an unfair advantage.
Chelsea boss José Mourinho said after the match that there was a campaign against Chelsea and this began from opposition managers right down to the referees. Fabregas has been one of the best players in the Premier League since his return to the league in the summer.

The 27-year-old already has created more than 15 goals directly through assists. His latest came in the first half when he put Eden Hazard through on goal. This was the only major opportunity created by Chelsea in the first half and the Belgian international scored to equalise.

Fabregas says that the result was very disappointing, but he was happy with the way the team played. "There was definitely contact. I don’t think the referee had the best game of his life but we’re all human and a bad day at the office can happen to anyone. That’s it, let’s not talk more about it, we have to talk about football. If we play like we did in the second half for the rest of the season we will have many, many moments of happiness, I’m 100 per cent sure of that.e have to perform like that. We didn’t start the game well,” said Fabregas.