Jose Mourinho: 'Phil Bardsley was lucky not to be sent off'

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho feels that Stoke City defender Phil Bardsley was lucky not to be sent off for a poor challenge on Eden Hazard in the Blues' 2-0 win at the Britannia Stadium.

The Scotland international scythed down Hazard in the 19th minute of the game, but was only cautioned by referee Neil Swarbrick, much to the fury of the Portuguese on the touchline.

Mourinho told reporters: "From my position and in a flash, it looks for me a red card, but I don't know. What I know is that if it was a bad tackle, it was the only one. The game was clean, it was good. "The game was aggressive but it was good. The referee kept the game under control and the players were fair.

"There were good fights, physicality, lots of duels but the game was clean and if it was a red card it was an isolated action."

Chelsea pulled three points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race courtesy of their win over the Potters.