Mourinho: Chelsea ‘fought hard’ after Courtois red card

It was another impressive opening-day display by Garry Monk’s Swansea, who won 2-1 at Manchester United a year ago, and added weight to Mourinho’s prediction that Chelsea will face a fight to retain their title.

Jose Mourinho delivered a clear sign he was fuming about the decision that cost Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois a red card and handed Swansea the chance to secure a 2-2 draw from the penalty spot on Saturday.

“In the first half we did well – they posed us a few problems, but we looked to fix that at half-time”.

The Blues were lucky not to go behind early on as Bafetimbi Gomis was through on goal, but fluffed his lines and failed to score.

Diego Costa overcame hamstring trouble to start up front for Chelsea and after a bright start by Swansea, the home side went ahead in the 23rd minute when Oscar’s free-kick from wide on the left curled straight in.

Gomis converted the penalty that allowed Swansea to equalise for the second time and ultimately denied Chelsea the opportunity to kick-start their defence of their Premier League title with a victory.

Though Chelsea might feel unlucky to have only a point to show for its opening match, there was more than a touch of fortune about the team’s goals.

“However, Chelsea put nine goals past Swans last season and was the only league win at Stamford Bridge in 1925 when it was still called the Swansea Town”.

Oscar was sacrificed for Begovic, who was sent the wrong way by Gomis as the striker finished calmly from the spot.

He can already turn matches with moments of magic and even string two or three breathtaking months together, but if Mourinho is to be fully convinced he can trust his “only true No.10” to share the creative burden with Hazard in the biggest games, nothing less than extending these hot streaks over a season will do.

Substitute Cameron Jerome thought he’d made it 2-2 when he stretched his boot up for an acrobatic overhead shot that flew into the net in the 74th – only for referee Simon Hooper to whistle for his foot being too high.

Chelsea struck first from an odd, untouched free kick.

Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher grabbed second-half goals for Sunderland, while Marc Albrighton got Leicester’s fourth at the King Power Stadium.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the rub of the green today”, Norwich coach Alex Neil said.

Bournemouth’s much-awaited game at Vitality Stadium was decided by Villa substitute Rudy Gestede’s header in the 72nd for last season’s FA Cup finalists.