Jose Mourinho should try managing Norwich City if he feels hard done by over contentious refereeing decisions, insisted Alex Neil.

The outspoken Chelsea chief appears on a collision course this season with Premier League officials, topped by a stadium ban for the Blues' recent 1-0 league defeat at Stoke City.

Diego Costa's 64th minute strike ensured Mourinho's men returned to winning ways at Stamford Bridge, but Neil felt aggrieved his side did not get a first half penalty when Willian appeared to bundle over Robbie Brady inside the Chelsea penalty area.

'It would be interesting what Jose's thoughts would be if he managed one of the bottom teams. It is very different, I can assure you,' said Neil. 'When you are away from home and everyone - apart from our pocket of fans tucked in the corner - is shouting at the referee and putting him under pressure it is very different. Not only that, he has a high profile manager like Jose standing at the side of the pitch putting his view across to the fourth official about decisions as well.

'Not getting the decision isn't the reason we lost the game but it certainly doesn't help. I very rarely say anything about referees but this season I think we have been on the end of decisions that haven't gone our way.

'When you are a smaller team and you come to these places, and you have a free kick or a penalty shout, you really need it to go your way; especially if the decision is there for all to see. I really felt we had a natural case for a penalty.'

Mourinho appeared to take exception to Neil's intermittent dialogue with the fourth official, but the youngest manager in the top flight is not bothered about upsetting the established order if he feels City remain the victims of injustice.

'I am there fighting for my team. I want to get as many decisions in our favour that I feel we deserve,' he said. 'I do think referees have a difficult job but the bottom line is if you don't ask for decisions, if you don't appeal or don't remonstrate ultimately you won't get them.

'It gets extremely frustrating. Referees are only human, but those minor details mean a great deal to us because we are not going to go there and have five or six glaring opportunities to score, so when you do feel you deserve a penalty you hope it is awarded.

'I spoke to the fourth official after the incident but, as I say, generally there hasn't been too many times when we have been on the right end of those calls. There has been a disallowed goal, a few penalty decisions which have been blatant that we have not got as well and I felt after 30 or so minutes of this game we should have had a penalty.'