Chelsea boss Avram Grant has refused to put Ricardo Carvalho's Boxing Day dismissal in the same bracket as Peter Crouch's horror tackle at Stamford Bridge.

Carvalho got a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor on Boxing Day, one week after Liverpool striker Crouch was sent off for a lunge at Mikel John Obi.

Grant felt there was a difference between the two dismissals - in terms of intent and the fact that Carvalho immediately issued an apology.

"When you go with intention to hurt players, I don't like it," he said. "For me it is clear that this is not the same situation, and we apologised anyway.

"Peter Crouch was angry, he said Mikel did something to him. He (Crouch) did not even apologise. He said many other things that were not clever.

"People said he is racist which I don't believe - but there is a difference because Carvalho immediately - even though he did it with no intention - apologised. Why didn't Peter apologise?"

Grant has also instructed his players not to tackle with two feet after the current trend of punishing the challenge with a straight red card.

He also feels there could be clarification on the rules.

"I am a manager since September but I didn't hear it before," he said.

"The communication needs to be better, maybe from our side also."

Grant has senior players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba on the sidelines injured at the moment and is looking at targets for the January transfer window.

"We want players of the right quality," he said.

"It would be an advantage if they can play in Europe, although the Champions League is in February and I expect the injured players to come back and the African players."

Grant hinted at looking for long-term investments as well as short-term solutions.

He added: "The problem is not the money. I think it's more than the short term. Chelsea is a club that has to be at the club - not just for the next few months but for the next years."

Chelsea face Newcastle at Stamford Bridge and have Carvalho and Ashley Cole suspended.

Cole's red card on Boxing Day was upheld, and Grant admitted he will consider carefully whether future appeals are worthwhile, given the recent trend of failed attempts.

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