Mourinho fume with send off
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Ref Graham Poll left Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho fuming after tonight's shock 2-1 defeat by Tottenham.
Mourinho's side failed to capitalise on an early lead and had England captain John Terry sent off for a second bookable offence as Tottenham fought back to win 2-1 thanks to a goal in each half, from Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon.
But it was Poll who figured highly in Mourinho's post-match analysis of a defeat which leaves the Blues three points behind Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.
The under-fire official disallowed a Didier Drogba goal and dismissed Terry - while, according to Mourinho, failing to red-card Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly for elbowing Michael Essien.
Mourinho said: "I don't understand why John Terry was sent off. I cannot find a reason for that.
"The team gave everything and played high-pressure football. We had chances with one player less. But Mr Poll goes home, and nobody can ask him about the reasons behind his decisions.
"I never ask referees about their decisions because they always have an excuse. So why should I ask him? He would say something like Didier Drogba was free and had a clean header but somebody 30 metres away made a foul. They always have an excuse for their decisions.
"Have you ever seen a referee come and say 'It was my mistake, and I influenced the game?'
"I don't want to speak any more about that because we lost. I don't want people to make a confusion between the defeat and ref."
Despite his intention to change the subject, Mourinho continued in similar vein.
"He sends John Terry off because he is pulling Ledley King and keeps Ghaly on the pitch when he gives a clear elbow on Michael Essien's face. They always have an excuse. He has perfect vision - two matches with him, and five points we have lost.
"I have had in my mind for a long time that referees should come to press conferences after the game to explain their decisions. But it would be a fake press conference, because they would come with their excuses and you can do nothing about it."
Mourinho was less hard on his own players.
"I am happy with my team," he said.
"We made a couple of individual mistakes and we paid for that. We conceded two goals because of these individual mistakes - clear individual mistakes.
"It was a big effort from Martin Jol and his team. They had victory in the UEFA Cup and they beat Chelsea - and I hope they enjoy it.
"We are three points from the top of the league. I prefer to be three points in front but I don't think it is a drama. We are playing very well and we showed quality in the first half against Spurs and character in the second.
"We don't feel happy when we lose local derbies because we feel for the fans."
Tottenham coach Martin Jol was delighted with the club's first league victory over Chelsea at White Hart Lane since 1987, and their first in the league over the Blues since 1990.
The victory was made even more remarkable by the fact that full-back Pascal Chimbonda played throughout the game with medial ligament damage to his knee, following a bruising challenge from Frank Lampard.
The win took Tottenham's unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games, and it was a satisfying moment for the Dutchman.
Jol said: "I feel it has been a great week for the club, with us winning in the UEFA Cup and beating the champions. It is an achievement.
"They said we had never beaten a top side, and that was a bit annoying. But we did that today. It was a great performance, aside from the fist 25 minutes.
"We woke up when they scored and we had nothing to lose. We said before the game we had to be brave and play with confidence - and we did that in the second half.
"Chimbonda was injured and really couldn't play on. But I had no defenders, so he did. He was the best evidence of our spirit and character."
Mourinho's side failed to capitalise on an early lead and had England captain John Terry sent off for a second bookable offence as Tottenham fought back to win 2-1 thanks to a goal in each half, from Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon.
But it was Poll who figured highly in Mourinho's post-match analysis of a defeat which leaves the Blues three points behind Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.
The under-fire official disallowed a Didier Drogba goal and dismissed Terry - while, according to Mourinho, failing to red-card Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly for elbowing Michael Essien.
Mourinho said: "I don't understand why John Terry was sent off. I cannot find a reason for that.
"The team gave everything and played high-pressure football. We had chances with one player less. But Mr Poll goes home, and nobody can ask him about the reasons behind his decisions.
"I never ask referees about their decisions because they always have an excuse. So why should I ask him? He would say something like Didier Drogba was free and had a clean header but somebody 30 metres away made a foul. They always have an excuse for their decisions.
"Have you ever seen a referee come and say 'It was my mistake, and I influenced the game?'
"I don't want to speak any more about that because we lost. I don't want people to make a confusion between the defeat and ref."
Despite his intention to change the subject, Mourinho continued in similar vein.
"He sends John Terry off because he is pulling Ledley King and keeps Ghaly on the pitch when he gives a clear elbow on Michael Essien's face. They always have an excuse. He has perfect vision - two matches with him, and five points we have lost.
"I have had in my mind for a long time that referees should come to press conferences after the game to explain their decisions. But it would be a fake press conference, because they would come with their excuses and you can do nothing about it."
Mourinho was less hard on his own players.
"I am happy with my team," he said.
"We made a couple of individual mistakes and we paid for that. We conceded two goals because of these individual mistakes - clear individual mistakes.
"It was a big effort from Martin Jol and his team. They had victory in the UEFA Cup and they beat Chelsea - and I hope they enjoy it.
"We are three points from the top of the league. I prefer to be three points in front but I don't think it is a drama. We are playing very well and we showed quality in the first half against Spurs and character in the second.
"We don't feel happy when we lose local derbies because we feel for the fans."
Tottenham coach Martin Jol was delighted with the club's first league victory over Chelsea at White Hart Lane since 1987, and their first in the league over the Blues since 1990.
The victory was made even more remarkable by the fact that full-back Pascal Chimbonda played throughout the game with medial ligament damage to his knee, following a bruising challenge from Frank Lampard.
The win took Tottenham's unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games, and it was a satisfying moment for the Dutchman.
Jol said: "I feel it has been a great week for the club, with us winning in the UEFA Cup and beating the champions. It is an achievement.
"They said we had never beaten a top side, and that was a bit annoying. But we did that today. It was a great performance, aside from the fist 25 minutes.
"We woke up when they scored and we had nothing to lose. We said before the game we had to be brave and play with confidence - and we did that in the second half.
"Chimbonda was injured and really couldn't play on. But I had no defenders, so he did. He was the best evidence of our spirit and character."
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