Chelsea v Burnley: Ben Mee scores late equaliser after Nemanja Matic was sent off

CHELSEA was stunned by relegation-threatened Burnley, conceding a late goal after being reduced to 10 men in a 1-1 draw.

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PREMIER League leader Chelsea was stunned by relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday, conceding a late goal after being reduced to 10 men in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Ben Mee headed in from a corner in the 81st minute to cancel out Branislav Ivanovic’s first-half opener for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The corner was earned after Ashley Barnes’ low strike was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Barnes had escaped punishment in the 70th minute for a dangerous-looking high challenge on Nemanja Matic, who then angrily pushing the Burnley striker and received a straight red card.

Burnley's English defender Ben Mee (R) celebrates with Danny Ings.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was clearly unhappy - as he was in the first half when two penalty claims were dismissed. Michael Knightly handled to block Ivanovic’s shot in the 33rd and Chelsea striker Diego Costa was shoved over by Jason Shackell in the 43rd. Barnes also avoided any sanction in the 30th for fouling Ivanovic. Barnes also avoided any sanction in the 30th minute for fouling Ivanovic.

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“I am not in a mood to laugh,” Mourinho said.

When Chelsea went in front in the 14th minute the hosts were in complete control and appeared set to strengthen its grip on top spot. Eden Hazard had skipped through the defense unchallenged before reaching the byline and cutting the ball back for Ivanovic to clip into the net.

Here are the four key incidents that Jose Mourinho referred to in his press conference: http://t.co/i8wotrxxyc #CFC pic.twitter.com/n7GIy04RkI

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 21, 2015

But decisions went against Chelsea and striker Diego Costa managed just one shot on target on his domestic return after completing a three-game ban.

It was only the second time this season Chelsea has dropped points at home after being held by Manchester City in January.

Chelsea captain John Terry remonstrates with referee Martin Atkinson.

Both Barnes and Kieran Trippier who provided the corner for Burnley’s equalizer are both former members of the City’s academy.

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Mourinho had to contain his fury over referee Martin Atkinson’s decisions, having been fined and warned by the English Football Association recently for claiming officials were influenced by a “campaign” against the club.

“This game had four crucial moments - minute 30, minute 33, minute 43 and minute 69 and this is the story of this game,” Mourinho said.

Earlier, Branislav Ivanovic

“I am punished when I refer to these situations and I don’t want to be punished,” he added.

But Mourinho did suggest Atkinson should have sent Barnes off long before the second-half incident for the challenge on Ivanovic.

“Minute 69 has a big relation with minute 30 because the player, if I can call him a player, who was involved in minute 69 was involved in 30,” Mourinho said. “And normally minute 31 (Barnes) should be in the shower.

“So no minute 69 if the person in charge (Atkinson) does it in the proper way on minute 30.”

Burnley players celebrate with English defender Ben Mee.

Originally published as Chelsea v Burnley: Ben Mee scores late equaliser after Nemanja Matic was sent off