West Ham add to woes for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea

West Ham 2 Chelsea 1

Jose Mourinho’s disappointing season hit a new low as he was sent to the stands during his Chelsea team’s defeat at West Ham.

The embattled Blues coach failed to emerge from the tunnel after half-time, having apparently exchanged words with referee Jonathan Moss during the interval.

He then refused to speak to the media after the match, which ended in a 2-1 loss – the ailing champions’ fifth loss in 10 games this term.

On Friday Mourinho said his relationship with the media would change after phone camera footage of him walking around in west London was published – and the very next day he dodged the usual post-match press conferences.

Chelsea's meltdown began in the 44th minute at Upton Park when Nemanja Matic, already on a yellow card after fouling Mauro Zarate, cynically brought down Diafra Sakho to earn his marching orders.

Mourinho stood impassively on the touchline as the midfielder trudged off, but behind him first-team coach Silvino Louro’s histrionics got him removed from the dug-out.

Only when the Portuguese failed to retake his position pitch-side, instead appearing in the stand amidst a flurry of camera phones – which no doubt would not have improved his mood – was it apparent that he too had been sent off.

Mourinho already has a suspended stadium ban hanging over him for previous indiscretions this season and is now likely to find himself in hot water with the Football Association once more.

His, and Chelsea's, charge sheet from this match alone will make grim reading. His players could be punished for surrounding Moss – John Terry and Cesc Fabregas were booked for their protests.

The Blues’ total of seven yellow cards will incur a fine, while the Premier League takes a dim view of managers not attending press conferences.

The ‘Special One’ also now finds himself as short as 3 to 1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his club following what was, even by Chelsea’s standards this term, a terrible day at the office.

Zarate had fired West Ham into a 17th-minute lead and Chelsea were unhappy that Fabregas had a goal ruled out for offiside, while Kurt Zouma’s effort being cleared millimetres before it crossed the line added to the frustration.

Yet after the half-time rumpus the 10 men managed to haul themselves level in the 56th minute when Gary Cahill lashed home from a corner.

However, West Ham substitute Andy Carroll had the final say, emerging from the bench to powerfully head in Aaron Cresswell's cross with 10 minutes left.

Defender Cahill did front up to the media, telling BBC Sport: “You’re left scratching your head sometimes. In the first half the Cesc Fabregas goal could have been given and we had the goal that was nearly over the line. That sums up the way we’re going.

“And then we’ve got the sending-off. Originally we played on – we thought the referee had played on. Maybe the assistant called it back, I’m not sure sure what’s happened there.

“We’ve not had the rub of the green but we’re not feeling sorry for ourselves. We have to work hard to turn this round.

“Not many words are being said at the moment. I’m sure we’ll reflect in next day or so. We worked really hard at 10 men and had the majority of the play in the second half. It’s a summary of our season at the minute.”

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic said he had not spoken to Mourinho since the final whistle.

“I feel for him,” the Croatian said. “Decisions from his point of view have gone against him. I would moan if it was against us. But they are not mistakes – they are matters of opinion.

“The sending-off I didn’t see. The first one was definitely yellow, the second one was very far from me, but it looked like Sakho was already gone.

“But I think second yellows, especially in the first half, should be ‘proper’ bookings. The disallowed goal? No-one can say onside or offside even when you freeze the picture.”

The furore surrounding Mourinho took some of the spotlight away from West Ham, who added Chelsea to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in their list of high-profile scalps this term.

Bilic added: “I’m very proud of my team and my club. It’s brilliant to win against the champions at home.”