MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini blamed referee

Bobby Madley for Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to

Everton by claiming he made an "unbelievable"

decision and two "important" mistakes that cost

his side.



The Chilean thought Everton's opening goal

should have been disallowed for offside, when

Romelu Lukaku was in Willy Caballero's line of

vision as the goalkeeper parried Ross Barkley's

shot to Ramiro Funes Mori, who scored.



And he believed his side should have had a

penalty when the City scorer Jesus Navas was

challenged by Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas.

Pellegrini said in a news conference: "I am

disappointed, especially for two very important

plays. The first goal is absolutely offside. It is

unbelievable the referee or linesman did not give

offside.



"Also it was a clear penalty for Jesus Navas; they

were two very important decisions. It is a foul

inside the box, a clear penalty. But the referee

didn't whistle for both actions. I give my opinion

because they were so clear."

But Pellegrini is confident City can overcome their

first-leg deficit when they meet again at the

Etihad Stadium on Jan. 27.



"If you lose 2-1 playing away and if you are not

able to win 1-0 at home you don't deserve to

continue," Pellegrini added.

City lost Eliaquim Mangala to a hamstring injury

and Pellegrini said the France international will

miss Saturday's trip to Norwich in the FA Cup,

plus potentially several other games.

City are already without one injured centre-back,

in captain Vincent Kompany, and now only have

Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis who are

fit.



"Mangala has a problem in his hamstring,"

Pellegrini added. "Of course it is a problem. We

have just two centre halves, Otamendi and

Demichelis and we have to play six or seven

games more in January. It is a lot of games."



Pellegrini defended his decision to start with

Caballero in goal and said he will play at Carrow

Road at the weekend.

"Willy is playing the Capital One Cup," he said.



"He will continue in the FA Cup also. I think he

played very well."

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