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'Strength of character' pleases 'proud' Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas was a relieved man after his side left it late before claiming all three points at Molineux © Getty Images

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Under-fire Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has lauded the 'character' of his troops after the Blues snatched a dramatic late winner at Wolves. He said: "It was an important result. After the recent results that we have been getting, the team showed good strength of character to come back from some negative results in the December fixtures and come away with a win. It was a tremendous physical effort that we were put through, 48 hours after our last match, so that is an excellent sign for the team. It is in moments of difficultly that you have to dig deep to find good results and the team did exactly that. I am very, very proud."

Ramires grabbed the game's opener in the 54th minute, and the players immediately headed to the dugout to celebrate the goal with the management team. "We are united in the objectives we have for the season," Villas-Boas said. "It has been difficult with the last two fixtures and that has made us look at the Premier League table with a different perspective. We were in it (the title race) in mid-December and it's a shame we missed a big opportunity to close, because we would have been up there at the top to fight for it. But all of the top teams will meet each other from January onwards. With a lot of people challenging for the title, surprises can happen."

Villas-Boas also rubbished claims Chelsea's recent struggles have let to mounting unrest at Stamford Bridge. "There is no sense in those stories. They are based on the fact that we had two games where we had negative results and that is important to them when they have nothing to write. Speculation is unfair and it has happened to us before, it is not going to break us down. We are focused in our dressing room and whatever is written is just part of the Premier League show."

Frank Lampard said his last-gasp winner was a "big goal" for Chelsea, who prior to their trip to Wolves had gone four games without a win. He told Sky Sports: "It was a big goal for us as a team. The celebrations at the end I think showed that. It was a game we should have won and to go 1-1 late on in the game, you get that sinking feeling, due to the recent results that we've had, that it was going to be another day like that. It wasn't just brilliant to score the goal but to send us home with a win, and the fans that travelled up here today deserved that."

When asked what the victory says about the Chelsea squad, he added: "It says that we've got character and that we've got fight. I think any top team has to have sprit and desire, something that Chelsea have had for many years and people have envied what we've got. When you have got that, you have got a chance of winning things. Today we have shown that determination for every moment that we were on the pitch, and then you get your bit of luck at the end."

An irate Mick McCarthy was "livid" and "disgusted" after seeing his Wolves side fail to hold on for a point against Chelsea. He told Sky Sports: "I am livid. I am disgusted that we've conceded the goal that we've conceded. I should be stood here talking about a well-earned draw instead of accepting some back-handed praise for getting back into the game. I'm not interested in that, I'm interested in points. That today was rubbish, the fact that we conceded that goal. We got back into the game and we shouldn't have given that goal away."

McCarthy refused to see the positives in the fact his side, at the wrong end of the table, put in such a heroic effort against a side with title aspirations. He said: "Back-handed praise. We worked hard, yeah, all my teams do. When we need to get a point, we should have been talking about three points from the Emirates, from Bolton and a real tough one from a home game against a good Chelsea side. Instead, I am stood here sick that we've lost it."

QPR manager Neil Warnock was bitterly disappointed with Joey Barton's dismissal during the 2-1 defeat to Norwich. He said: "The referee didn't see it; the linesman's actually informed him that he saw Barton headbutt Bradley Johnson, which is ridiculous really. I think he's guessed it because of Johnson's reaction. You say cheats don't prosper but I think in this case he has done. He's conned him and unfortunately the linesman's fell for it hook, line and sinker and it's disappointing. It's frustrating; it feels like we've run over a few cats recently. Joey said he didn't make any contact with him. I suppose they [Norwich] will be delighted because they've got three points so it probably justifies what Johnson's done.

Joey Barton is sent off for an off-the-ball clash with Bradley Johnson © Getty Images

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Joey Barton took to Twitter after the game to make his feelings on the red card known. He wrote: "Well [I] feel for the officials, they've been conned. Admitted to me at half-time they never saw it. I was pulled back 1st, then kicked 2nd. [The] linesman definitely never saw it, all he [has] seen was Johnson's reaction. My head doesn't move forward at all. Ridiculous decision seen 25 replays."

He also added: "I'd be 1st to apologise if I'd reacted. Cannot apologise as I know I've not head butted anyone. Disappointed for the lads and the fans. Make your own minds up when you see it. The game's gone! Hopefully referee sees it retrospectively and sees he's been conned. It's no consolation for us right now but at least its [sic] something."

Norwich manager Paul Lambert singled out Anthony Pilkington, who scored one and set up substitute Steve Morison for the winner against QPR. He said: "It was a brilliant goal from Pilkington. I thought he was excellent the whole game. It was an equalising goal and a fantastic finish [and] he set up the second one for Morison." Lambert made a triple substitution in the second half, bringing on Morison, Wes Hoolahan and David Fox, and he was delighted his gamble came off, with Morison netting a late winner. "We just thought the three of them might give us something else and so it proved to be," he added. "I thought we deserved to win the game. I think we used the extra man really well."

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