Chelsea supporters have hit back at Jose Mourinho's "ill-advised" criticism that there has been a lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge this season.

The Blues are currently at the top of the Premier League table with a four-point advantage following an unbeaten 10-game run.

After Saturday's 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers, Mourinho claimed that the atmosphere is worse than his first spell in charge back in 2004.

"The manager's criticisms were slightly ill-advised because the fans pay good money to watch highly paid footballers," the Daily Star quotes Tim Rolls of the Chelsea Supporters' Trust as saying. "Maybe the team hadn't played particularly well and he was seeking to deflect attention.

"But the reality is that, while I'd rather the ground was like a bear-pit, that's not what the Premier League is like these days with the changed demographic of spectators coming to games, not least because there are an ever increasing number of tourists in the ground.

"No one will hold it against him long-term - he's there to win games, and that's what he's doing, but I don't think criticising the fans when the team is top of the league helps."

Chelsea will switch their attention to the Champions League this week when they take on Maribor on Wednesday.