Source: Team_Talk
Coleman slams 'smug' ref Bennett
Coleman claimed Bennett was "very friendly" towards some of the Chelsea players during Saturday's quarter-final tie at the Ricoh Arena, and the former Fulham boss also revealed his team were "not happy" with the attitude shown towards them by the referee.
The Sky Blues boss was furious that Bennett allowed two Chelsea players - Didier Drogba and Alex - back on the pitch so quickly after needing treatment and within 30 seconds the latter had scored the crucial second goal.
Coleman said: "I was disappointed with Mr Bennett all afternoon as were my players - his attitude towards us and towards them.
"I know it was Chelsea who are a great team who deserve respect and he let us know that in no uncertain terms.
"That is not why we lost but I was disappointed with that. He was smug towards us, the way he was talking to my players, my senior players.
"He was very friendly towards some of the Chelsea players. I know they are great players but you are there to do a job and my players are not happy with his attitude.
"Then for the second goal Chelsea had two players off the pitch for treatment. You are not supposed to wave them back on until you see where the ball is going to bounce and so they gain no advantage.
"You can't wave them back on in a situation like that and who scores the goal - Alex."
Coleman added: "Chelsea paid us a compliment by fielding such a strong side.
"I couldn't ask any more from my players but we were disappointed with the first goal we gave to Drogba. We don't need to give them any help. They are good enough to create their own goals."
Hiddink insisted Chelsea's build-up to the game was not overshadowed by the midweek incident involving Ashley Cole who was given a fixed penalty fine by police after being arrested for being drunk and disorderly in the early hours of Thursday morning.
He said: "We had one little thing to cope with before the match but it did not dominate what is happening at Chelsea.
"Yesterday we had this one issue but it was important that it did not cause friction in the team."
Hiddink was full of praise for Drogba who opened Chelsea's account against the Sky Blues and revealed the striker had been undertaking extra training.
The Ivory Coast international followed up his midweek winner against Portsmouth with a clinical first-half finish after some sloppy defending to grab his sixth goal of the campaign.
Hiddink said: "From the first day I have seen him, he has been a guy who has been working very hard.
"I don't want to judge what went on before. I didn't have to force him but he has been doing extra training and it's paying off."
Hiddink was delighted that Chelsea reached their third FA Cup semi-final in the four years.
He said: "It is not easy with the way Coventry play with the long balls up to their strikers but we managed to control them and play well.
"We scored a beautiful first goal although we were a bit sloppy when scoring a second goal after playing so well in the first half."
