Wigan boss Steve Bruce claims referees favour the big boys in the Premier League. Bruce claimed the official missed a blatant push by Frank Lampard on Mario Melchiot seconds before the Chelsea midfielder headed their winner and that big teams always get the advantage when it comes to difficult decisions.

"It makes your blood curdle that the referee is 15 yards away," said Bruce.

"Big clubs still get all the decisions. The referee seems to help them all the way.

"We were at Anfield earlier this season and big decisions were not given. At Stamford Bridge - decisions were not given. I've got a distraught dressing room who have run a million miles to compete.

"Sometimes it makes you that angry that you think 'is it all worth it' at times.

"I think it is easy for them not to give the decisions against the big boys.

"You hope that when you go to Chelsea or a big club that they just do their job properly and will not be intimidated by a big club, a big atmosphere, and big expectation.

"For their first goal, Didier Drogba's shot was not a corner. It was not deflected. That was the start of the build-up for the goal. For the second one, he (Lampard) has got his hand on his (Melchiot) back and just pushed him.

"The top teams will always be the top teams because they have got the best players. But when you go and play against them as you do, you ask them (referees) to just do the job.

"What can you do? There is nothing I can do. It is a waste of time ringing up 'this, that and the other' because the same things happen. Big will always get the decisions against the little one. It is the law of the jungle.

"I feel injustice towards my players and I will defend them. It was a foul. They should have been sitting on the bus going back for five hours with a point at Stamford Bridge that would have been thoroughly deserved."