DISGRACEFUL
Mourinho rants at official after disallowed goal West Ham play football from 19th century, he blasts
JOSE MOURINHO last night launched a furious tirade at fourth official Mike Jones as Chelsea lost ground in the Barclays Premier League title race.
The Chelsea manager lost his temper after Jones indicated only four minutes of injury time, as Mourinho’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling West Ham. He then described that as a ‘disgrace’.
He later turned his anger on the tactics employed by Sam Allardyce’s men, branding them a ‘19th century’ football team.
The Hammers had just one shot at Petr Cech’s goal all night, compared to Chelsea’s 39. And Mourinho said: ‘That is not best league in the world football, this is football from the 19th century. Too bad.
‘What do I mean about 19th- century
Football in the 19th century generally conjures images of bearded men in flannels and hats and carrying pipes but Jose Mourinho has attempted to redefine it.
according to the new lexicon of the Special one, it now represents time-wasting, feigning injury and failing to take your goal- kicks quickly, on purpose, rather than simply because you have to refill your pipe with tobacco.
Still, his point was made. His Chelsea team tried to score — they had 39 shots at adrian’s goal — and tried to entertain while West Ham did everything in their power to add a precious point to their relegation fight.
at least Mourinho had the grace to admit that he might have done the same if he was fighting for survival at the bottom of the barclays Premier league.
Sam allardyce emerged happier from this derby, despite more injuries to extend his long casualty list. Mo Diame hurt his knee tumbling into the crowd in the first half, Kevin Nolan came off with a sore back and West Ham finished with 10 men after Joey o’brien dislocated a shoulder when all the substitutes had been used. He could be out for 12 weeks, said allardyce, although the club later claimed he could return much sooner.
Still Chelsea could not find a way through these ancient tactics, parking the omnibus perhaps, and their title ambitions took a blow as they prepare for Monday’s date with barclays Premier league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
allardyce was able to laugh off Mourinho’s jibes. ‘We outwitted him,’ chuckled the West Ham boss. He must have been proud of the way his players carried out his orders, with nine in defence and andy Carroll isolated up front.
James Collins, who came off at half-time with his shirt in tatters, expertly organised his back four, who were in turn well protected by an industrious midfield five. there may have been 39 shots but many of these were ambitious efforts from long range and when the home team did pierce the defensive shield they found goalkeeper adrian in splendid form.
oscar hit the bar early on with a delicious curling shot. at the time it seemed hard to believe it was as close as Chelsea would come. Demba ba, off the bench for the last 10 minutes, also stabbed a shot into the foot of a post.
Frank lampard endured abuse from the visiting fans as he warmed up on the touchline and came on with purpose but for once the script was not written with him in mind.
Eden Hazard found him in front of goal with the game in the seventh minute of stoppage time but adrian blocked his low drive with a boot.
Chelsea simmered with frustration. on the touchline, Mourinho lost his cool, leaping around in fury and complaining in the ear of the fourth official. on the pitch, Ramires was booked for bouncing the ball angrily into the turf when a decision went against him.
Mourinho was incandescent when the board went up to show only four minutes of added time, although the game went on for nearly four more because of o’brien’s injury.
the Chelsea boss had earlier exploded when o’brien cut down Willian in front of him and seemed set to invade the pitch. anxiety lapped around Stamford bridge, reinforced by goal flashes from White Hart lane where Manchester City were again rampant.
as they took more chances in search of a goal, Chelsea offered West Ham the odd glimpse of glory.
Carroll, starting in the Premier league for the first time this season, had a wonderful chance to inflict Mourinho’s first home defeat in the competition.
Stewart Downing burrowed down the left and Petr Cech could only flick the cross away with his fingertips. It fell to Carroll, on his left foot, on the half-volley, but the England striker made a complete hash of it. He barely made contact and the ball spun harmlessly away.
James tomkins thought he had scored in the opening minutes, heading a free-kick down towards the corner but Cech sprang to his right and saved. It would be another
Stamford Bridge clean sheet for Chelsea, their seventh in nine games, but that did not ease the pain.
according to the statisticians the tomkins header proved to be West Ham’s only effort at goal. For most of the game, they had nine behind the ball, crowding the creative spaces and smothering Chelsea’s playmakers, who took turns to try their luck from distance with increasing desperation.
Ramires went close in the first half with a sweet strike from 20 yards which just faded wide and John terry found the target with a firm header from Willian’s corner, but adrian kept it out with his feet.
If anything, West Ham’s defending was even more heroic in the second half. tomkins blocked from Ramires, o’brien denied ba and three players hurled their bodies in front of a shot from lampard.
they survived a bizarre attempt by Eto’o to score as adrian put the ball on the floor, turned his back and rubbed his head. Eto’o burst forward and slammed the ball into the net. Confusion ensued before referee Neil Swarbrick ruled in favour of the goalkeeper.