SKIPPER Kevin Nolan wasn’t crying over spilt milk after summing up Wanderers 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Howard Webb – the referee who sent off Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo last week for a deliberate handball – appeared to miss another blatant case when John Terry blocked Johan Elmander’s 60th-minute volley with his upper arm.

A penalty might well have seen Wanderers force their way back into the game but Nolan was not making excuses after the final whistle.

“I think it was a penalty but it wasn’t the reason we lost the game – we did that in the first 20 minutes,” the midfielder said.

“John Terry is a great player and he knows what he is doing, he’s very clever. It would have been tough for Howard Webb to give it, but deep down I really think it was a penalty.

“We didn’t get it – and there’s no use crying about it – we had to get on with it.

“Howard is a top man and a great referee. I really enjoy it when he’s in charge because he doesn’t get many wrong. In my opinion he got one wrong today but hopefully it won’t happen again to us.”

Three of the Big Four have now beaten Wanderers at the Reebok this season and Nolan admitted they had shown Chelsea too much respect in the opening exchanges.

“I think we didn’t stick to the gameplan, that was what was most disappointing on our behalf – especially as we have played so well recently,” he said. “We didn’t keep the high line in defence like we have done in the last few weeks. Chelsea exploited that because they have got good enough players.

“We have got to be disappointed because we lost the game but we can at least point to the fact we came out for the second half and gave them a good go.

“We should have had a penalty and have had a couple of good chances but it wasn’t to be.”

No-one has enjoyed claiming the scalp of the big sides like Nolan down the years – but the skipper admits those days are becoming increasingly rare.

“I suppose if we lost the games against the Big Four and beat everyone else, we’d be more than happy,” he said. “But it is still very disappointing because had we not given away so much in the first 20 minutes, anything might have happened.

“As long as we beat the teams around us, we can afford to lose the odd game against the Chelseas, Liverpools and Manchester Uniteds. When a scalp comes along, people just think ‘what a great win that was’.

“We have got a busy Christmas now and I’m looking forward to it. We have played all of the Big Four here, except for Manchester United, so I’d like to think we can go the whole season unbeaten at the Reebok from now.”