Rafael Benitez: 'Fabricio Coloccini should've been sent off'

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has claimed that Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini should have been sent off for a challenge on Demba Ba this afternoon.

Coloccini went to clear a ball in the first half of the match that ended 3-2 to Newcastle in dramatic fashion, but he was beaten to it by the head of Ba.

Ba's effort drifted narrowly wide of the open goal and the Senegalese striker was forced off with a suspected broken nose, leading Benitez to claim that Coloccini deserved a red card.

"There were too many mistakes. I could see a red card that was not shown for Fabricio Coloccini," said the Spaniard.

"We had a chance and Demba Ba received a broken nose, it is bleeding. It's simple, if it was in the middle of the pitch, you bring it back and give the foul."

Chelsea's defeat leaves them six points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table, having played a game more than the reigning champions.