Paul Lambert angry with referee's display in Chelsea loss

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert was furious after he believed two crucial decisions failed to go his way in a feisty 2-1 loss at Chelsea.

Lambert, 44, argued match-winner Branislav Ivanovic should have been dismissed for an elbow and his side should have had an injury-time penalty.

"There were two major decisions that were called wrong," he told BBC Sport.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho countered by saying Lambert wanted "to be coach, manager and referee".

He told BBC Sport: "My view is that Paul [Lambert] reminds me of me when I was his age.

"[When] he is on the bench, he complains about every decision. That is exactly how I was 10 years ago.

"He needs time, like I needed time, to have some more maturity and complain with some decisions."

The two managers endured several heated arguments on the touchline in the second half.

The first revolved around the decision from referee Kevin Friend to punish Chelsea's Ivanovic with a yellow card after he caught Christian Benteke with a flailing arm.

Minutes later, the Serb headed in unmarked from a Frank Lampard free-kick.

Benteke had earlier side-footed in a sharp equaliser just before the break after Antonio Luna deflected in an own goal from a saved Eden Hazard shot.

Lambert was further infuriated after Chelsea captain John Terry appeared to block Gabriel Agbonlahor's header with his arm at the death.

"In big moments, in big games, you have got to call them right. I thought it was two big moments that went unpunished," the Scot stated.

"I am not going to stand here and get into trouble, but I think it is an elbow [from Ivanovic].

"It is not sour grapes as we got beat, I think it was there for everybody to see.

"I think everybody saw that in the stadium. Then, I think it is a penalty."

Mourinho read both incidents differently.

He said: "This is English football, so I think a yellow card is enough in a situation where two players [Ivanovic and Benteke], who for 90 minutes, had a fantastic physical duel.

"He says it is a penalty? I say it is a free-kick against Aston Villa as there is a player who pushes John [Terry]."

Villa competed well at Stamford Bridge, with the strong performance following an excellent opening weekend victory at Arsenal.

Lambert's inexperienced side fought against relegation for much of last season, but he believed the last two matches showed his team was improving.

"I am proud of them," he said. "They are a young team which is growing together.

"The performance on Saturday was outstanding, the performance tonight [Wednesday] was outstanding.

"We are getting better and better with every game."