Not a leg to stand on: James Milner is the victim of a horror tackle from John Terry, to the disgust of Martin O'NeillJohn Terry stands accused of nearly ending the career of England team-mate James Milner with a second-half challenge during Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa at Wembley.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill launched a furious attack on the defender, who was only booked for the lunging tackle that caught World Cup hopeful Milner around the knee in the 74th minute.
Milner finished the match but O'Neill insisted his midfielder was 'very lucky' to be looking forward to playing again.
O'Neill and Terry have been at loggerheads since Chelsea's 7-1 thrashing of Villa in the Premier League a fortnight ago, when the Chelsea captain suggested Villa were not fit enough to last a game at full strength.
But the Villa manager's latest outburst is much more serious and was combined with an angry attack on referee Howard Webb, who waved away Villa appeals for a penalty with the score at 0-0.
O'Neill said: 'I don't know whether you have seen John Terry's challenge. It is just horrendous for an England team-mate. James Milner is exceptionally lucky his career is still intact.
Sympathetic: John Terry looks to see if his England team-mate Milner is okay'James is very sore and very lucky. He's got away with it because his leg was in the air at the time, which helps. His knee bends out with the challenge.
'I have spoken to my doctor and he says James is a very fortunate boy. It was about 15 yards outside the Chelsea box and James was turning away from goal. It was a pointless challenge.
'It was a straight red card and it was right in front of the referee. I know you might think I am in a rant, but I'm not. These are incontestable decisions.'
O'Neill was also angry that Villa were not awarded a first-half penalty when John Obi Mikel upended Gabriel Agbonlahor in the Chelsea penalty area and, arguably, should have been sent off.
Furious: Martin O'Neill is angry with John Terry Terry, who was nearby at the time, admitted that it was a straightforward foul and that his team had got 'lucky', but he declined to comment on the Milner challenge.
His admission was little consolation to O'Neill, whose side were beaten on a poor pitch by second-half goals from Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard.
The Irishman also felt hard done by when Villa lost to Manchester United in the Carling Cup final in February. Then a penalty was awarded to his side but the culprit, Nemanja Vidic, was not sent off despite preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity.
'The referee (Phil Dowd) bottled it completely against United and we had the same today,' he said.
'I'm sitting here six weeks on and talking about major incidents that affect the game. 'Today we didn't get a penalty because the consequence of it all is in referees' minds. Just apply the law. That is all I'm looking for. I have the utmost regard for Howard Webb but it is maddening. It was an injustice.'
O'Neill's anger will dominate the post-match debate but should not overshadow the significance of Chelsea's win as their dream of the Double goes on.
After a half-time rollicking from manager Carlo Ancelotti they put pressure on Villa and could rely on Drogba, who took his goal tally to the season to 32, to edge them ahead from close range.
Penalty claim: Gabriel Agbonlahor went over under the tackle of Mikel Two more late strikes on the break flattered Chelsea a little but left them facing either Tottenham or newly relegated Portsmouth in their third final in four years at Wembley next month.
Terry said: 'We've got our minds on the Double. We're back at the top of the Premier League and in the FA Cup final and that's what our sights are on.
'If we keep winning and working hard for each other we have a very good chance. 'We are probably favourites for the title. We are back at the top and it's in our hands.
'It's three years since we won the Premier League and we're determined to get it back to the Bridge.'
source: dailymail
