David Sullivan has shown a generous spirit to cock-up referee Rob Madley after he awarded his soft spot kick to Chelsea at the weekend.

The co chairman said: “It was really hard to see us concede a late goal two weeks in a row and for two weeks in a row to draw games we could and should have won.”

Speaking to the official site he said: “It clearly wasn’t a penalty on television, but nobody can blame the referee for getting such a marginal decision wrong in real time rather than a slow motion TV replay.

“What hurts me is we get no such marginal calls our way. The Dimitri Payet penalty at Manchester United could easily have been given and there are a dozen occasions this season where we could have got penalties and didn’t.

“We have not had an away penalty in the league in four seasons and we have had less penalties in four seasons than any team in the Premier League.”