Jose Mourinho and two of his players saw red as Chelsea’s title dreams were dealt a severe blow thanks
to a stunning goal from Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph.
The Blues’ boss was sent to the dressing room by referee Chris Foy for going onto the Villa Park pitch to
protest against the dismissal of midfielder Ramirez for stamping on Villa’s Karim El Ahmadi in time added
on at the end of a controversial clash.
After the game Mourinho refused to comment saying ‘I will get myself in trouble if I say anything and I do
not want to get into disrepute’.
However, he did not hide his anger at referee Foy who earlier in the game had sent off Chelsea’s Willian
for what seemed like a harsh second yellow card.
“I was not the only one on the pitch,” said Mourinho. “Paul Lambert
and his staff were also on the there along with Agbonlahor who was not in the game.” (The Villa No.11 had
been substituted earlier).
Villa, buoyed by a 4-1 win against Norwich were full of confidence from the kick-off and in no mood to roll
over and let the Premier League leaders have an easy day.
In an electric atmosphere, both teams attacked incessantly but despite Chelsea’s £multi-million players,
they struggled to break down a resolute Villa back four and midfield which never stopped running.
On 42 minutes Chelsea fans thought their team had taken the lead when Nemanja Matic tucked the ball in
at the far post, only for referee Foy to rule the goal out for hand ball.
Both teams came out for the second half determined to get a victory but the game changed in the 68th
minute when Delph broke away on the left of midfield and was pulled back by Willian. Referee Foy in-
stantly reached for a second yellow followed by a red card which replays showed was harsh.
The Villa players and fans smelled the scent of victory and piled on the pressure. In the 82nd minute
man-of-the-match Delph picked up the ball in the Chelsea half and dodged one tackle before playing it
out to substitute Marc Albrighton on the left of the area. The flying winger sent in a low cross and with
his back to goal Delph cleverly flicked the ball with his heel past a despairing Petr Cech and into the
corner of the net in front of the ecstatic home fans packed into the Holte End.
Chelsea tried desperately to get back into the game but failed to breach the rock-solid claret and blue
line. Then as the game ticked into injury time Ramirez broke clear on the left but over-ran the Ball and
as El Ahmadi made the tackle, the Chelsea midfielder blatantly stamped on his leg right in front of the
dugouts.
Players and managers from both teams flew onto the pitch to surround the referee who reached for his
red card and as Ramirez walked slowly towards the tunnel Foy rebuked Mourinho’s protests and sent
the Chelsea boss in the same direction.
After the match Villa boss Paul Lambert refused to discuss the sendings off or the referee’s performance,
preferring to praise the effort of his team.
“I thought we were outstanding today and thoroughly deserved the win,” he said.
Meanwhile, Special One Mourinho refused to comment on a suggestion that he and captain John Terry
allegedly banged on the door of the officials demanding answers. Whatever the case, the colourful
Chelsea boss is bound to be punished once the FA have a chance to examine the evidence.
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