Officials have got it in for us, says Chelsea boss Grant as appeal over red card fails

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Chelsea today failed in their attempt to overturn the red card given to Essien for raising an arm to Kenny Miller in the 2-0 win.

Fuming: Chelsea stars including John Terry, Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko lead the protests after Michael Essien's red card at Derby

The resulting three-match ban will see him miss matches against West Ham, Sunderland and the key trip to Arsenal next month, but things could get worse for Chelsea if the Football Association accuse them of failing to control their players.

John Terry and Ashley Cole were among the furious starswho surrounded referee Andre Marriner and it is thought the official reported the confrontations as intimidatory.

Chelsea are on dangerous ground after accepting a £30,000 fine in September on the same charge after John Obi Mikel was sent-off at Manchester United.

However, Grant insisted there was nothing wrong with his team's reaction.

He said: "The players saw that the referee took an easy decision against us and they said something to him, but it was okay."

Grant made it clear at the weekend that he thinks Chelsea are getting a raw deal from referees. It is thought that he will raise the matter with the FA regardless of any more fallout from Derby.

He said: "I think decisions have been against us. Three red cards in the last three months, two or them absolutely not red cards, and Saturday also.

"They are taking the decisions against us too easily with the red cards and many other things. Everybody needs to think about this."

Meanwhile, Grant has assured Michael Ballack he has a future with the club.

The German international made his Chelsea comeback last night after seven months out with an ankle injury when he played for 45 minutes in a 2-0 reserve team defeat to Birmingham at Brentford's Griffin Park.

Grant was pleased with the midfielder's performance and insisted the 31-year-old ex-Bayern Munich star was part of their long-term plans - despite not being registered for the Champions League matches. He said: "I think Ballack played well. He is a good player and we need him fit and scoring goals.

"He will be very useful for us and it was good to see him back on the pitch. We are not talking about him in the past, we are only looking forward. He is definitely part of our long-term plans."

Ballack is now confident he is on course to make his first team return before Christmas.