Sam Allardyce: 'Don't blame Roman Abramovich, Rafael Benitez has to deal with it'

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes that Chelsea supporters are wrong to criticise owner Roman Abramovich and believes that the buck stops with interim boss Rafael Benitez.

A host of Blues fans could be heard chanting "Roman Abramovich, is this what you want?" during Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to the Hammers on Saturday but Allardyce has insisted that the Russian billionaire deserves respect.

"Roman is the owner of Chelsea Football Club and he's entitled to do whatever he wants because of the amount of money he puts behind the team," said Allardyce.

"He's been a great advocate for why the Premier League has become such a great brand around the world of football, by the money he's put in. What he wants, you have to deal with if you're the manager. And you have to deliver."

Benitez was handed the temporary role following the dismissal of manager Roberto Di Matteo.