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Ancelotti admits Chelsea 'needed' to beat Villa

Carlo Ancelotti saw Chelsea concede late on © PA Photos

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Carlo Ancelotti said Chelsea "deserved to win and needed to win" after Ciaran Clark's injury-time equaliser handed Aston Villa a share of the points at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea took the lead when Frank Lampard converted a disputed penalty, but Villa drew level going into the break when Ashley Young fired home a spot-kick at the other end.

Emile Heskey's header early in the second half looked to have given the visitors all three points, but late efforts from Didier Drogba and John Terry turned the match on its head going into injury time.

Villa were not to be denied, though, as Clark headed home at the far post to make it 3-3.

"I am disappointed obviously because I think we used a lot of energy in the second half to come back in the game and try to win," Ancelotti said. "We had a fantastic reaction and played very well with good energy and spirit.

"When we thought the game was won we lost two points in the last situation so, for this reason, I am disappointed because we deserved to win and needed to win. It is our fault because we were unable to maintain concentration.

"In the first half there were a lot of long balls and fouls. The second half was really good, we came back to play our football with intensity, creating a lot of situations to score. We scored two goals. It was good second half."

Ancelotti gave Jeffrey Bruma, 19, his first league start at centre back and, while he praised the youngster's performance, he acknowledged that Chelsea are struggling without their recognised defenders.

"Defensively we lost something," he said. "Obviously I just want to say that Bruma played very well but we are without Alex and Ivanovic - we lost some energy on the high ball.

"We conceded the second goal for this reason. The third was different because we needed to have more attention in the box."

Asked about the club's plans for the January market, he said: "In the centre back I think we have to look at the condition of Alex. This week he comes back from Brazil and we have to look. I don't like to speak here, but we need some players."

Chelsea now sit six points behind leaders Manchester United having played an extra game, but Ancelotti is refusing to admit defeat.

"First they have to win [their game in hand]," he said. "Second, I think the gap is not a light gap in this moment but everything is open again. Obviously we have to beat them here and then you can say something about the title.

"It is not over because we are improving and we can save something this season. We lost confidence because the hard moment was too long, but I think we are improving."

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