Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton hailed his own side's display as their best of the season, especially considering they were without Nikola Zigic and Marlon King, and lost captain Stephen Carr early in the game.

"I'm more delighted not so much with the result as the performance," Hughton said, admitting his side took advantage of Chelsea's recent poor run.

He added: "A Premier League team playing against a Championship team at home are always going to be favourites.

"Any unrest, it's normal, but I'm quite sure that they'll go on to have success because of the quality of player that they've got."

Hughton said of the pressure on Andre Villas-Boas: "It very much comes with the territory.

"He is an exceptional manager. You don't get the type of job that he's got without being that.

"I think he's gone through a transitional period, perhaps with the way that they're playing and the players than they have.

"Sometimes it takes that little bit longer."

Hughton revealed full-back Carr's latest knee injury would be assessed ahead of Tuesday's trip to Barnsley.

He added: "The big blow for us is that he's only just come back from a lay-off."