Jose Mourinho Complains That Ref Phil Dowd Was Too Slow

A seething Jose Mourinho invited scrutiny on the performance of referee Phil Dowd after witnessing his Chelsea side lose 5-3 at Tottenham in a result which wiped out their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Harry Kane scored twice as Spurs ended a 10-match winless run against the Blues, who now share the Premier League lead with a Manchester City side who have erased an eight-point deficit to Mourinho's men.

The Chelsea manager complained of a "clear campaign" against his side following Sunday's draw at Southampton, but escaped Football Association disciplinary action.

He again felt aggrieved by two decisions he felt went against his side and may now face FA censure.

The first was when Jan Vertonghen fell and brushed the ball with his hand after blocking Oscar and the second when Mourinho felt Eden Hazard had been hauled down by last man Federico Fazio.

Despite accepting Hazard's version of events and that no foul had been made, Mourinho used the incident to highlight Dowd's display.

Mourinho told BT Sport: "Hazard, honest as always, tells me in his opinion it was not a foul or a red card, so that's good, in spite of Mr Dowd is too slow to go with that ball, he was like 40 yards away, he made the right decision.

"The decision (that) was like 10 meters away, he couldn't make and that's a decision that is the crucial moment of the game."

That was a reference to the Vertonghen incident, which came when Chelsea led and Mourinho was unwilling to forget, even though many thought it incidental in a game where Chelsea conceded five goals.

Anthony Taylor booked Cesc Fabregas for a dive, rather than award a penalty at Southampton and Mourinho suggested two decisions in the last two games cost his side maximum points.

At the post-match media conference, Mourinho added: "With the result 1-0, one clear action could make it 2-0.

"Normally, at 2-0, the result would be completely different and the history of the game would be different.

"I'm more shocked with other things than to concede five goals.

"Where I am shocked is that, in three days, we had two incredible decisions that punished us in a very hard way.

"We had one (point) out of (a possible) six when two crucial decisions would give us six points.

"What matters are the points. The decisions, the normal tendency is for people to forget the decisions."

Mourinho had no intention to speak to Dowd following the match, but did return at half-time speaking in the referee's ear.

The Blues boss back-tracked somewhat on the "too slow" comment in relation to the Fazio-Hazard incident, but again took the opportunity to point to the Vertonghen handball.

Mourinho said: "That is difficult for him and difficult for everyone, not just for him. That situation is something you accept is difficult.

"The first one, in the first half, which is clear, like the one against Southampton, which was also clear. They're the ones that are difficult to accept.

"Managers and players, we win and lose. And Mr Dowd didn't lose."

Mourinho feels Hazard is being kicked routinely and unfairly and needs protection.

"People in love with football in this country, people must be in love with Eden Hazard," Mourinho said.

"The way, match after match, he's being punished by opponents and he's not being protected by referees, maybe one day we won't have Eden Hazard.

"It's one, two, three, four, five, 10 aggressive fouls against him. They kick and kick and kick, and the kid resists.

"He's a very honest guy in the way he plays, but that's another problem."