Amid the hysteria surrounding Chelsea’s Carling Cup final defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, one fact has been forgotten: even the saintly José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho lost the odd match. The Portuguese passed off most of his defeats as draws, most notably against Charlton Athletic and Liverpool in the Carling Cup and Champions League respectively, but as well as twisting the truth, his greater talent was ensuring that his players responded strongly to setbacks, a trend continued by Avram Grant, his less fêted successor, in this demolition of West Ham United on Saturday.

Three goals up within 23 minutes, Chelsea could have threatened double figures without the bizarre decision of Peter Walton, the referee, to send off Frank Lampard for an innocuous push on Luís Boa Morte.

Mourinho was also known to make occasional selection blunders — his use of a diamond formation with Michael Essien at the tip and Paulo Ferreira on the right of midfield in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Liverpool two years ago is one example — so Roman Abramovich was always likely to allow Grant one off-day. The Chelsea owner was not at Upton Park to witness the start of his friend’s battle to redeem his reputation because of his return home for the Russian presidential elections, although Grant was convinced that he would have enjoyed watching the game.

“I know Roman saw it on TV,” the Chelsea first-team coach said. “Even if he was on an island on the moon, I know he would see it.”

It is the nature of Grant’s lot in life as an unheralded manager without a glittering CV to fall back on that even his astute decisions will be used against him, with many using the fact that those players left out at Wembley played a leading role on Saturday as another stick with which to beat him. Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and the outstanding Michael Ballack scored excellent goals after Lampard had given the visiting team the lead from the penalty spot. Salomon Kalou also enjoyed his best performance for some time in creating two of the goals, although Grant deserves some credit for lifting the team’s morale and sending them out in a positive frame of mind.

Such skilful man-management will be crucial if Grant is to coax meaningful contributions from all 27 of his players in the three competitions that remain, with Joe Cole’s positive attitude suggesting that it can be done.

“I don’t get too much involved with all the dramas around the club,” he said. “My job as a player is to try and perform as best as I can when selected. I played today and made a contribution so I’m happy with that. The right performances and the right attitude were all there today for everyone to see so it was a great response. All the goals were well-worked goals. The main thing was the response from the lads and everyone around the place.”

Chelsea’s achievement is put into context by the fact that Manchester United and Liverpool have lost at Upton Park this season, with Arsenal scraping a 1-0 win, which goes some way to explaining George McCartney’s glowing assessment. “They were the best team we have faced this season,” the West Ham defender said. “It is the first time we have been beaten 4-0.” Even Mourinho never achieved such a scoreline.

West Ham United (4-4-1-1): R Green 6 – L Neill 5, A Ferdinand 5, M Upson 5, G McCartney 5 – J Faubert 4 (sub: N Solano, 66min 4), M Noble 5, H Mullins 5, F Ljungberg 5 – L Boa Morte 5 (sub: D Ashton, 46 5) – C Cole 6 (sub: R Zamora, 66 5). Substitutes not used: R Wright, J Spector. Next: Liverpool (a).

Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech 6 – P Ferreira 6, R Carvalho 6, J Terry 7, A Cole 6 – M Ballack 8, C Makelele 6 (sub: Alex, 83), F Lampard 6 – J Cole 7 (sub: M Essien, 68 6), N Anelka 7, S Kalou 7 (sub: F Malouda, 75). Substitutes not used: C Cuducini, D Drogba. Booked: Ballack, Terry. Sent off: Lampard. Next: Sunderland (a).