Jose Mourinho is confident Chelsea can cope without Diego Costa for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Costa picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during the goalless draw at Sunderland on Saturday.
The Spain striker was fortunate not to be given a red card at the Stadium of Light, first kicking out at John O'Shea in the first half and then being booked for appearing to strike Wes Brown with his trailing arm in an aerial challenge.
He will now miss Wednesday's trip to White Hart Lane, but Mourinho insists the absence of his star striker will give Loic Remy or Didier Drogba an opportunity to step up.
"We don't cry about injured or suspended players," the Chelsea boss told reporters. "If he's suspended, he is suspended. We have Drogba and Remy.
"We are top of the league and we have another match on Wednesday."
When it was suggested Costa was 'feisty' and may have to be careful in the Premier League, Mourinho replied: "Why do you always talk about Diego? I don't think so."
Opposite number Gus Poyet refused to be drawn on the specific incidents involving the forward, yet did concede that Costa often gives officials decisions to make.
"He is always close to the limit," the Uruguayan added. "I think the decisions can go one way or the other. I haven't watched the video yet. They are 50/50s; one day they go for you and others they don't.
"If it was Lee Cattermole, he would have got sent off for sure."
Mourinho withdrew Costa and introduced Drogba and Remy on 76 minutes but Chelsea could not force a winner and Sunderland ended the match in the ascendancy.
Yet while the Blues boss was far from satisfied with a point, he refused to criticise his players' performance.
"It was difficult," he admitted. "They had spent one week preparing for the match and had a clear strategy. Many people criticise defensive teams. I don't do that because you have to do it well and they did.
"We always tried to play and move the ball but they defended very, very well. I praise them for their success in getting a clean sheet. I have no negative words to my players because they tried everything and were not successful.
"I thought it was a fair result. We are not happy with a point but we have to be mature and experienced enough to know every match is difficult in this league.”
Any frustration felt by Mourinho was in stark contrast to Poyet’s emotions.
"I am realistic so I am pleased," he continued. "To have the chance to get something against a team like Chelsea, first you need to defend - and do it properly.
"We did that. That's a minimum. We had chances at the end because there was space.
"You never know if it's fate or not but we need to be pleased with the performance. It was our best for a The Brazil-born Spaniard picked up his fifth booking of the season during an ill-tempered performance at the Stadium of Light and will miss Wednesday's clash with Tottenham
Jose Mourinho is confident Chelsea can cope without Diego Costa for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Tottenham.
Costa picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during the goalless draw at Sunderland on Saturday.
The Spain striker was fortunate not to be given a red card at the Stadium of Light, first kicking out at John O'Shea in the first half and then being booked for appearing to strike Wes Brown with his trailing arm in an aerial challenge.
He will now miss Wednesday's trip to White Hart Lane, but Mourinho insists the absence of his star striker will give Loic Remy or Didier Drogba an opportunity to step up.
"We don't cry about injured or suspended players," the Chelsea boss told reporters. "If he's suspended, he is suspended. We have Drogba and Remy.
"We are top of the league and we have another match on Wednesday."
When it was suggested Costa was 'feisty' and may have to be careful in the Premier League, Mourinho replied: "Why do you always talk about Diego? I don't think so."
Opposite number Gus Poyet refused to be drawn on the specific incidents involving the forward, yet did concede that Costa often gives officials decisions to make.
"He is always close to the limit," the Uruguayan added. "I think the decisions can go one way or the other. I haven't watched the video yet. They are 50/50s; one day they go for you and others they don't.
"If it was Lee Cattermole, he would have got sent off for sure."
Mourinho withdrew Costa and introduced Drogba and Remy on 76 minutes but Chelsea could not force a winner and Sunderland ended the match in the ascendancy.
Yet while the Blues boss was far from satisfied with a point, he refused to criticise his players' performance.
"It was difficult," he admitted. "They had spent one week preparing for the match and had a clear strategy. Many people criticise defensive teams. I don't do that because you have to do it well and they did.
"We always tried to play and move the ball but they defended very, very well. I praise them for their success in getting a clean sheet. I have no negative words to my players because they tried everything and were not successful.
"I thought it was a fair result. We are not happy with a point but we have to be mature and experienced enough to know every match is difficult in this league.”
Any frustration felt by Mourinho was in stark contrast to Poyet’s emotions.
"I am realistic so I am pleased," he continued. "To have the chance to get something against a team like Chelsea, first you need to defend - and do it properly.
"We did that. That's a minimum. We had chances at the end because there was space.
"You never know if it's fate or not but we need to be pleased with the performance. It was our best for a
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