Improved away display delights Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said the 3-0 victory at West Ham was their best away performance in the Premier League since his return to the club.

Frank Lampard scored twice, either side of an Oscar strike in the first half, as the Blues cruised to the win at Upton Park.

Mourinho had been critical of some of his team’s performances on the road this season, and was particularly scathing in the wake of the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle earlier this month, but was beaming from ear to ear after the emphatic West Ham result.

He said: “Away from home we’ve had some difficult moments.

“We had a very good second half against Tottenham but we didn’t play well in the first half, we had some good moments against Norwich but not the complete game.

“I thought today was, from the first minute to the last very, very stable and very comfortable.

“Everybody was committed to the clean sheet against an opponent that is always difficult.

“Not everything was under control because it could have been 2-1 with 15-20 minutes to go and that could have given us a difficult game, but the team was very solid.”

Mourinho said he thought West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen could have been sent-off after bringing down Oscar for the penalty, which Lampard converted.

However, referee Chris Foy didn’t even show a yellow to the keeper, much to Mourinho’s bemusement.

He said: “I spoke with Chris and he told me it was not a red card.

“He was 10 metres away, I was 50 metres away, so if he says no, then OK.”

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