Former Chelsea midfielder Vinnie Jones defends Antonio Conte tactics at Man City

Former Chelsea midfielder Vinnie Jones has claimed that Antonio Conte should not be criticised for using defensive tactics against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Chelsea succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, but the Blues failed to register a shot on target as they kept 10 men behind the ball for large periods of the match.

Conte has defended his choice not to play more ambitious football at the home of the Premier League leaders and while he has said that it was "brutal to watch", Jones has supported the Italian.

The 53-year-old told talkSPORT: "If you go up there, it's a fortress at Manchester City, the way they are playing - they are invincible at the moment.

"You get five at the back, five in front of them, and try and nick something. If they had come away with a point, I think everybody would have said 'they've done well'.

"But, I know what you're saying; the way they played was brutal to watch. I saw them at Watford a few weeks ago, and it was the same thing then. They were smashing balls up, but they've got to play the ball about.

"It was brutal to watch - I will say that - but if Chelsea had gone and nicked the draw and won a point, I think it would be a different discussion today."

Chelsea remain five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the league standings.