Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas denied John Terry got himself deliberately booked during the win over Wolves.

Terry was cautioned by ref Lee Mason on Saturday for time-wasting at a throw-in in the last minute of the game. It was his fifth booking of the season which brings a ban, ruling the Blues' captain out of tomorrow's quarter-final tie at Stamford Bridge.

But smiling Chelsea boss AVB insisted it wasn't a cynical, pre-planned act.

He explained: "Terry got a yellow card from a throw-in. Ashley Cole was looking for the best options and couldn't find any so Terry's out on Tuesday.

"It wasn't a deliberate yellow card as they're not allowed by UEFA.

"Frank Lampard was also on four yellow cards and we didn't force it."

Terry will now be free to lead Chelsea into a hectic December programme which includes vital games against Man City, Spurs and Newcastle United.