Blues got off to the worse possible start when they went a goal behind after only six minutes at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea defender Robert Huth headed home, aided by his defensive partner John Terry who clearly blocked Blues defender Martin Taylor allowing Huth a free run at the header.
"It's being going on for 20 years," Bruce said in his post match interviews.
"I just wish the ref had seen it. It was a foul, a training ground move and we were sucker punched."
Blues did however make a game of it in the second period and could quite easily have snatched an equaliser - both Robbie Blake and Darren Anderton testing Chelsea keeper Cudicini before Terry himself secured the Londoners place in the 5th round with a second goal ten minutes from time.
"I was pleased with the second half performance and we could have snatched an equaliser, which would have made it interesting," Bruce added.
New signing Blake was making his first start for Blues and Bruce was pleased with the former Burnley man's performance.
"Robbie Blake had his full debut and did very well," Bruce concluded.