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Ancelotti frustrated by Dowd's decisions

Carlo Ancelotti felt Ramires should have been given a penalty rather than a booking © Getty Images

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Exclusive post-match analysis

Carlo Ancelotti was critical of referee Phil Dowd following Chelsea's agonising penalty shootout defeat to Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday and is looking for his side to bounce back immediately.

Chelsea were a minute away from victory following Frank Lampard's goal, but Leighton Baines curled in a late free kick in extra time to force penalties and they were dumped out when Phil Neville tucked home Everton's fifth spot kick - after Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole had missed for Ancelotti's side.

Ancelotti will look to raise morale for a big week ahead, as Chelsea face Copenhagen in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League, but he was left pondering on a couple of decisions from Dowd.

The official opted to book Ramires for a dive in the penalty area and Ancelotti also felt the decision to award Everton the late free kick from which Baines scored was dubious.

"There is a lot of disappointment because we worked hard for the whole of two hours, we created a lot of chances and we deserved to win," Ancelotti said.

Ancelotti felt Branislav Ivanovic was lured into making a late challenge from which Everton scored, but felt it was a marginal decision.

"Branislav Ivanovic played a fantastic game but maybe he could pay more attention in that situation," Acelotti said. "But sometimes when you have to jump, a lot of times the ref whistles and a lot of times he lets the game play on.

"Also I think it was a penalty for us at the end of the first half. It was strange for Ramires to receive a yellow card."

Ancelotti has a job to do to pick his players up but feels having big games on the horizon will aid his cause. He said: "It is not an easy moment because we have to play very important games but sometimes it is good to play tough games because you are more in focus, so we don't have be afraid to play against Copenhagen and Man United, it could be a good motivation. We have to be able to move on quickly from this defeat."

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