Conor Gallagher has vented his frustration with Chelsea’s 2-0 loss against Everton.

The 23-year-old was given the captain’s armband after Reece James was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the clash at Goodison Park.

Gallagher played well, but could not provide an inspiration for the Blues, who lost, and are now 14 points behind the top four.

“It’s a tough one,” said Gallagher to the official Chelsea website after the defeat.

“We were desperate to come here and play well and get three points. We haven’t managed to do that and everyone is gutted. We need to improve and know how to win [these types of] games. There is a lot of work to be done.

“We worked hard and I thought we were playing well, battling well, but credit to them. It’s a tough game when you come here. The way they play is difficult.

“I thought we dealt with that well until the first goal went in. It was a really tough game and everyone is disappointed. There is a lot of stuff we can improve on to help us win these games.”