Joey Barton critical of Chelsea penalty

Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has claimed that the decisive penalty in their FA Cup fourth round defeat to Chelsea was "soft".

Juan Mata converted the spot kick in the second half after Daniel Sturridge had been brought down in the area by Clint Hill.

"My opinion on the penalty has not changed in real time," Barton tweeted. "Sturridge stepping on that landmine does not help the ref either."

Rangers travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.