Bolton chairman slams referee after Spurs victory

TOTTENHAM beat Bolton 3-0 to equal their club record of 11 games unbeaten but the Lilywhites benefited from a shocking refereeing decision that left even manager Harry Redknapp bewildered.

Eighteen minutes into their match against the Premier League strugglers, Tottenham’s Scott Parker was brought down by Gary Cahill as he surged upfield. It was a cynical foul, but one committed ten yards into the Bolton half.

Nonetheless referee Stuart Attwell had no hesitation in showing Cahill a straight red, a decision that left Bolton with ten men for the last 70 minutes of the contest. “I was shocked when he gave him a red card,” said Redknapp later. “To give a red when Cahill was so far out … incredible.”

Bolton were already one down to a Gareth Bale goal on seven minutes, but with Cahill gone they leaked two more goals to Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe, a result that leaves the Trotters level on points with Wigan at the foot of the table. Tottenham are in third - seven points behind Manchester City but with a game in hand.

In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester Bolton chairman Phil Gartside risked incurring the wrath of the Football Association with his criticism of Attwell. “I am not happy about the referee's decision. It's an absolute disgrace," said Gartside, adding: “I am the first supporter of referees.

"My problem is that [the decision] was too quick. Scott Parker is one of my favourite players but if he is in a goal scoring position near the halfway line then he is a genius."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie continued his astonishing goal scoring streak by netting his 14th of the season in the Gunners' 4-0 rout of Wigan at the DW Stadium. Mikel Arteta put Arsenal in front on 28 minutes and a minute later Thomas Vermaelen extended the vistors lead.

The impressive Gervinho made it 3-0 on the hour mark and van Persie added a fourth 12 minutes before time. “It was a great team performance where we controlled the game and could have scored more,” said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal’s victory moved them into fifth spot, one place above Newcastle whose sudden loss of form continued with a heavy defeat at home to Chelsea. Beaten 3-0 by the Blues, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was furious Chelsea centre-back David Luiz wasn’t sent off after four minutes for a foul on Demba Ba.

In contrast with the events at White Hart Lane, Luiz was clearly the last line of defence for Chelsea when he felled Ba but referee Mike Dean deemed otherwise. “Luiz was the last man and Demba was in behind him,” said an irate Pardew later.

“The keeper wasn't going to get to the ball so it was a goal scoring opportunity. I was really angry about it. If that had happened at, say, Old Trafford, I think one of my players would have walked.”

With Luiz allowed a second life, Chelsea went on to score through Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge. The win not only lifted the Blues into fourth place but eased the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas after a difficult month.

Despite the win, however, Chelsea remain ten points behind leaders Manchester City after their 5-1 demolition of Norwich. Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and Adan Johnson scored for the Citizens with Steve Morrison giving the Canaries scant consolation with his late strike.

Manchester United kept up the pressure on their rivals with a 1-0 win away at Aston Villa. Phil Jones scored the all-important goal, the first of his career as United notched up their fourth one-nil win in five league games.

“I think we did well today,” said United boss Alex Ferguson. “It was a solid performance and winning away from home in the Premier League is never easy.”

In other results Yakubu scored four times for Blackburn in their 4-2 defeat of Swansea, only their second win of the season, while QPR and West Brom drew 1-1. ·