Chelsea hit with red-rage charge

Referee Mike Dean reported the club after at least four players surrounded him when he sent off John Obi Mikel.

John Terry grabbed Dean's red card but the captain has not been charged individually by the FA.

However, the club's assistant coach, Steve Clarke has been charged with using abusive and/or insulting words after clashing with match officials in the tunnel following Sunday's 2-0 defeat.

It is not the first time Chelsea have been in trouble for failing to control their players. They were fined £100,000 for fighting with Arsenal in last season's Carling Cup Final and a further £10,000 following another clash with referee Dean at Fulham in March 2006.

On that occasion, Chelsea's players confronted the official after he sent off William Gallas. Although Chelsea were warned about their future conduct at the time, FA sources suggest the club's disciplinary history will have little bearing on this case. Chelsea and Clarke have until 12 October to respond to the charges.

Terry, meanwhile, insists he will do all he can to maintain the "team spirit" at the club after Chelsea recorded their first win since Jose Mourinho's departure. Owner Roman Abramovich missed the 4-0 Carling Cup win at Hull City last night because of "travel difficulties" but in his absence chief executive Peter Kenyon and chairman Bruce Buck led the celebrations in the dressing room.

Doubts still persist though as to whether new boss Avram Grant will be in charge for the long-term and Guus Hiddink claimed today Abramovich had asked him whether he wants to stay with Russia or would prefer to join Chelsea.

Terry spoke publicly for the first time since Mourinho's departure and admitted "things have been difficult of late".

He added: "It was a great win and certainly well-needed as we hadn't won in four games.

"We knew Hull would get in our faces for the first 15 minutes but we matched them pound for pound and then our football did the talking.

"Things have been difficult of late but we have managed to pick ourselves up. We will do our best to maintain the team spirit throughout Chelsea. We will keep going. Man United was a very tough game but this is the right result just before the weekend game (against Fulham)."

Kenyon and Buck arrived in the dressing room within minutes of the final whistle in amove that was a clear sign to the players that Grant has their backing. Buck said: 'We wanted to offer our congratulations. It is a happier dressing room."

Asked if he had gone down to congratulate Grant and his players Kenyon replied: "Of course."

But doubts will grow again today about Grant's position after Hiddink's comments about his conversation with Abramovich. He is contracted to Russia until next year but Abramovich pays half of his £1.2million-a-year salary.

Hiddink was reported to have said: "Abramovich asked me, 'What do you want?' I told him right now I want to focus on Russia. I want to see this through now and then see what happens."