No sideshow this time as Mourinho points finger at players

Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2: Tyneside remains a no-win zone for Jose Mourinho and refreshingly, it was also a no-whine zone for the Chelsea manager, who for once resisted the urge to blame outside influences for his team’s failings.

There was a relatively minor dig at referee Michael Atkinson, but Mourinho’s main targets here were his own players who dug themselves into a hole by going 2-0 down, then relied on substitutes Ramires and Willian to extricate them.

The pair shared two goals in the final 11 minutes and Ramires almost claimed a stoppage time winner that would have enabled Mourinho to leave St James’ Park with three points for the first time in six attempts.