ROY Keane has spent all season ruing the standard of refereeing in the Premier League.

But he won't have many days when his complaints will be as justified as they were at the Stadium of Light last night.

Sunderland were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty in the seventh minute when John Terry bundled Roy O'Donovan over in the box, but referee Mike Dean refused to blow his whistle.

There was, with Terry being the last line of defence, a convincing argument for a red card, but to the despair of a ferocious home crowd, it wasn't to be.

Three minutes later, Terry rose above Kenwyne Jones and powered home the decisive goal.

This is the kind of luck you get when you're in a relegation battle and it brings a heavy cost.

Sunderland have now failed to score in four consecutive games and, if Bolton win tonight, they will be back in the bottom three.

It was an ugly, bad-tempered affair here at a freezing cold Stadium of Light, and Dean's tentative attempts at controlling it were as effective as a sticking plaster on a gunshot wound.

The penalty appeal set the agenda for the afternoon and there were repeated flashpoints.

First, Joe Cole chased Dean Whitehead across the pitch to remonstrate about what appeared to be a nothing challenge, then Carlo Cudicini and O'Donovan pressed their faces together like one of Rodin's grumpier sculptures.

The Chelsea goalkeeper howled at his tormenter, but the Irishman just stared him down, curiously while pressing his nose into Cudicini's mouth.

Keane has been criticised for his transfer dealings, but you have to applaud his recruitment of Andy Reid.

The former Charlton midfielder might be one of the fattest men in football, but he's not short on skill.

Sunderland have been crying out for someone with the ability to open up defences and Reid has this in abundance.

He found gaps in a tight midfield and was the beating, flabby heart of everything that Sunderland did.

With Carlos Edwards also looking quite sprightly on his return from injury, there is hope for this team yet.

Kenwyne Jones' late missed opportunities though, when he twice squandered headers in the box, is a clear indication of the area most in need of strengthening here.

Chelsea's lingering title challenge has been built on results like this. Quiet competence and gritty professionalism.

This is not to denigrate their performance though.

CONSISTENCY

Liverpool and Arsenal would love to have such consistency against the weaker teams of the division.

The Blues played some nice football here, but it has to said that their constant whining and injury-feigning left a bitter taste in the mouths of the home support.

For Keane, simple survival is all that counts.

He has spent too much money to retain his job if the Black Cats are relegated, but there are signs of a foundation appearing now.

Sunderland were very solid at the back and the addition of someone of Reid's class gives them options and possibilites up front.

If they can stick around for next season and add a couple of quality players to the squad, they could be a useful outfit, especially with the phenomenal support that they cram into this magnificent stadium.

Unfortunately, if they are going to stay out of trouble, they need points and, as Keane will tell you at length, that's easier said than done when you aren't awarded cast-iron penalties.

SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley, Evans, Reid, Edwards (Prica 62), Whitehead, Leadbitter (Harte 85), O'Donovan (Yorke 73), Jones

CHELSEA: Cudicini, A. Cole, Terry, Ferreira, Alex, J. Cole (Wright-Phillips 82), Lampard, Ballack (Essien 73), Obi, Drogba, Kalou