Town players and management have slammed Saturday's referee Andy D'Urso after the ludicrous spot-kick and bizarre sending off of John McGreal. D'Urso is a man who has faced a lot of criticism in recent years, notably from Manchester United last season.
Of his performance on Saturday George Burley said: "I don't need to see a replay, for me it wasn't a penalty. In the heat of the moment players may say something but I spoke to John McGreal and he told me he didn't swear at the referee. I spoke to the referee and he said he sent him off for foul and abusive language."
Fabian Wilnis condemed the penalty decision which led to the Town players' confrontation with D'Urso: "The referee had a blackout, especially second half, some of the decisions against us were really harsh. He missed a couple of handballs and then awarded a penalty which was definitely not a penalty."
Wilnis added that the penalty was a particular surprise as the Chelsea players hadn't even appealed. He echoed Burley in saying McGreal claims he didn't swear at D'Urso.
Town may look to appeal against the decision depending on what the referee puts in his report. It is interesting to note that during D'Urso's confrontation with Manchester United players last season no United player was red-carded despite the ferocity of their complaints.
Mark Venus missed out on Saturday after picking up a thigh problem.
Next Wednesday's away reserve fixture with Wimbledon has been postponed, presumably due to the woeful state of the Selhurst Park pitch.
Town's youth side play Crystal Palace at Portman Road this evening in the FA Youth Cup. Tickets are £2 for adults and a quid for kids. Town are likely to be without keeper Darren Kelly who has picked up an injury while Darren Bent has been in Brazil with the England U16s and may be jet-lagged.
Squad: Hulyer, Erdum Artun, Bonwick, Beevers, Bloomfield, Snowdon, Ambrose, Westlake, Richards, Dickinson, Bent, Burton, Chffey, Robinson, Subrin, Duncan, Kelly and Chibogu.
Groundsman Alan Ferguson has got his big tent out once more in order to make sure tonight's game is on despite what he says is the worst spell of weather since he moved to Suffolk.