Neil Warnock launched a scathing attack on Premier League referees after watching Cardiff City slip to a controversial 2-1 home defeat against Chelsea.

Cardiff boss Warnock stood in the centre circle, hands on hips, silently staring toward referee Craig Pawson and his assistants after an officiating mistake helped Chelsea come back to win on Sunday.

Victor Camarasa swept Cardiff ahead with a delicious volley straight after half-time, before Chelsea scored twice in the final six minutes through Cesar Azpilicueta and substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The win moves Chelsea to within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United, but Azpilicueta's equaliser was mired in controversy as he looked two yards offside when heading in after Marcos Alonso had flicked on Willian's corner.

Cardiff were also furious that Antonio Rudiger escaped a red card for dragging down Kenneth Zohore moments later with the striker breaking through on goal.

Rudiger was only shown a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson, but there was worse to come for Cardiff when Loftus-Cheek beat Lee Peltier to Willian's deep cross to head home in the first of four minutes of stoppage time.

The result is particularly painful for a Cardiff side who had looked like ending a run of 16 successive Premier League defeats against sides currently in the top six.

Following the match, Warnock - who gave himself time to calm down before speaking to Sky Sports - said: "To get let down by the officials... roll on VAR.

"We worked three weeks for this but to get let down by decisions... no major decisions went for us.

"They don't realise what is at stake. If I was a Burnley or a Brighton fan, they will be absolutely loving it today.

"It's not our fault an official can't see that, it is the most obvious offside I have ever seen or the most certain penalty I have ever seen.

"What goes through my mind? Is it payback time for me over the years?

"It's the best league in the world but the worst officials. They don't understand what is at stake. They shouldn't make mistakes at this level.

"Why am I working at 70 years of age for things like that to happen? It's not very often I am lost for words.

"My players feel like they have been kicked in the teeth. We've been kicked so many times. I don't deserve officials like that today. There is no excuse for that, it's criminal.

"If my players feel like they look in the dressing room, that's the end of our season. But how many times have we bounced back this season?"

Additional reporting by the Press Association and Reuters.