The media spotlight inevitability fell on the spluttering Chelsea and the mercurial talents of Jose Mourinho following West Ham’s hugely impressive win on Saturday.

That sadly had the effect of damning the Hammers with faint praise.

In an expansive pre-season mood, the Chelsea manager apparently sent a ‘Good Luck’ e-mail to Slaven Bilic and you have to fancy, when the Black Dog has moved on from his door, Mourinho may want to congratulate the Hammers boss on an excellent afternoon’s work.

Chelsea looked bemused and on edge against a rampant Hammers’ side well before the match exploded following Nemanja Matic’s red card.

The goal-line decision must have been frustrating for Chelsea but it’s an idiot who doesn’t salute the technology involved. To be able to tell to a millimetre whether or not the ball has crossed the line is a wonderful addition to the drama of the game.

You would imagine that somewhere, Sir Geoff Hurst was suppressing a rueful smile.

It’s just a shame the same technology can’t be used to eliminate arguments over offside decisions.

Much was made of the knee and arm of Cesc Fabregas that appear to vindicate the linesman’s decision to flag the Chelsea midfielder offside before the Spaniard went on to score.

However, as soon as the linesman indicated, Adrian in the Hammers’ goal raised his hand and made no attempt to save. Who’s to sayAdrian wouldn’t have got down to stop?

Not that Hammers fans need complain. Chelsea’s frustrations at what they see as the fates aligning themselves against them made for one of the most uproarious moments seen at the Boleyn for years.

Huge credit though has to be given to the manager.

Bilic’s decision to replace Victor Moses with Mauro Zarate was fully vindicated when the Argentine rifled in the 17th-minute opener. Then, as Chelsea were playing their best football of the game with ten, Bilic made another inspirational move by bringing on Andy Carroll for Zarate.

You sensed, long before Carroll rose to head home, this was a move that would upset Chelsea and it worked to perfection.

But it’s in the smaller ways where Bilic’s influence on this team has changed. Using two or three players to pressurise an opponent on the ball is a tactic that only works sporadically if the chasing side has players of inferior quality.

Few look at the numerous throw-in’s, back-passes or aimless short passes that take up the majority of the game but you sense Bilic analyses every one.

Harder times will come but there’s little to suggest Bilic won’t deal with them in the same impressive way.