The Addicks' run of four straight Premiership victories over Claudio Ranieri's team was set to be extended to a fifth before Carlton Cole and Frank Lampard scored in the last six minutes.

It was hard on Charlton, who took the lead when Paul Konchesky drove in after seven minutes.

But Konchesky was then dismissed in the 25th minute as Barber decided he had deliberately used his elbow in a challenge on Enrique de Lucas.

And despite doubling their advantage minutes later, Gianfranco Zola's goal before half-time kept Chelsea within striking distance of a result.

Curbishley said: "I was astonished that he sent him off. The ball was in the air a long while.

"I am biased because I know the boy but he wouldn't lead with his elbow to hurt someone.

"He was leading with his arm to protect himself, he caught him and Graham Barber ran over so quickly and made his mind up.

"I thought it was a booking, I am not a ranter and raver normally but on the whole I thought he (Barber) was poor.

"I am not saying that decision affected the result, I am saying it affected the way we played."

"To play with 10 men in that heat for so long against a side as good as Chelsea, I thought we did fantastically well.

"It's a cruel game and that was certainly cruel today - I thought we deserved at least a point."

Curbishley also cited a tackle by Celestine Babayaro on Jason Euell that he thought merited more than the yellow card it earned.

Yet he is fearful of officials' on-field crackdown and added: "If they are going to crack down there are going to be sendings-off every week."

Just 24 hours after Ranieri admitted his team are not capable of clinching the Premiership title, the Italian revealed he is in a no-win situation.

"When I win I am lucky and when I lose I am a donkey," Ranieri said. "It's not a good balance.

"I needed another two fresh strikers today and I knew both Eidur Gudjohnsen and Carlton Cole didn't have the 90-minute condition or stamina.

"But for a short time they are very good. I tried them and it was good for us."

Boudewijn Zenden was particularly impressive for the visitors, having suffered from a series of injuries last season.

And de Lucas shaped up well in his first Premiership match on the right flank.

"The spirit is there," Ranieri said. "Everybody knows what Charlton wanted to do.

"They play long balls straight away, that is how they always play, and they do it very well.

"Chelsea and Charlton are very different teams; Chelsea play football, Charlton a different way."